-DAUGHTER- OF 
NEW- FRANCE 


MARY-  CATHERINE 
•  CROWLEY- 


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A  Daughter  of  New  France 


A  Daughter  of  New 
France 


With  Some  Account  of  the  Gallant  Sieur 
Cadillac  and  his  Colony  on  the  Detroit 


By 
Mary  Catherine  ^Crowley 

Author  of  "An  Every-Day  Girl,"   "Happy -Go-Lucky,' 

"  Merry  Hearts  and  True,"  «« The  City  of  Wonders," 

"  Apples  Ripe  and  Rosy,"  etc. 

Illustrated  by 
Clyde  O.  De  Land 


Boston 

Little,  Brown,  and  Company 
1901 


Preface 


/TpO-DAY,  as  the  voyager  from  the  Atlantic  States, 
•*•  having  sailed  over  the  white-capped  Lake  Erie, 
enters  upon  the  broad,  shining  expanse  of  the  Detroit 
River,  the  Gateway  of  the  North-West,  he  can  scarcely 
fail  to  be  impressed  by  the  singular  atmosphere  of 
stillness  which  hangs  over  the  Strait  and  invests  the 
scene  with  a  charm  that  has  in  it  a  quality  of 
mystery. 

Silently  the  commerce  of  the  world  passes  through 
these  Gates,  —  a  tonnage  greater,  it  is  said,  than  that 
which  annually  leaves  our  seaboard  ports;  silently, 
save  when  in  a  deep-voiced  call  one  heavily  laden 
vessel  greets  or  turns  aside  for  another.  The  din  of 
the  city's  marts,  of  the  many  industries  along  the 
strand,  dies  away  at  the  waters'  edge. 

Silently,  even  as  Time  passes  into  Eternity,  the 
great  pleasure-steamer,  too,  and  the  light  yachting- 
craft  glide  on ;  and  it  may  be  that  the  voyager,  under 
the  spell  of  the  tranquil  hour,  queries  to  himself: 
"  What  were  the  thoughts,  the  emotions  of  the  first 
civilized  men  who  navigated  this  beautiful  Strait,  and 
found  it  to  be  the  connecting  chain  of  waters  between 


viii  PREFACE 

the  Inland  Oceans  beyond,  the  Lower  Lakes,  and  the 
Cataract  of  the  Niagara?  What  manner  of  men  were 
the  hardy  French-Canadians  who  colonized  these  pro- 
ductive shores?  What  was  the  personality  of  their 
bold  and  dashing  leader?  Who  were  the  women,  the 
wives  of  the  settlers,  who  made  the  first  homes  in  the 
old  palisaded  fort  upon  the  river  bank?  " 

These  questions  it  is  the  object  of  this  narrative  to 
answer  in  part :  to  go  back  to  the  treasure-houses  of 
French-Canadian  history,  Quebec  and  Montreal,  —  the 
former  more  especially;  to  sketch  from  its  annals 
the  society  of  the  city  of  Champlain  at  the  end 
of  the  seventeenth  and  the  beginning  of  the  eigh- 
teenth centuries ;  to  picture  the  brilliant  Gascon  chev- 
alier, who  laid  the  foundations  of  our  American  city 
of  Detroit,  with  his  company  of  sturdy  voyageurs, 
coureurs  de  bois,  sons  of  proud  seigneurs,  —  and  the 
women  who  loved  them  and  shared  their  fortunes. 

A  story  woven  from  threads  of  reality,  "A  Daugh- 
ter of  New  France  "  follows  closely  the  historical  and 
biographical  records  of  the  period  and  of  later  writers 
upon  the  subject,  all  available  data  having  been  care- 
fully studied. 

The  authorities  consulted  include  La  Honton,  the 
Cadillac  Papers,  the  Jesuit  Relations,  Charlevoix, 
Margry,  Le  Moyne,  Hennepin,  the  Chronicles  of  the 
Ursuline  Convent,  the  Abbe  Tanguay,  Garneau,  the 
Abbe  Casgrain,  Shea,  Sheldon,  and  Parkman.  The 


PREFACE  ix 

author  wishes  to  express  her  indebtedness  also  to  the 
invaluable  researches  and  articles  upon  the  early 
history  of  Detroit  by  Mr.  Clarence  M.  Burton,  the 
Rev.  Christian  Denissen,  and  Mr.  Richard  R.  Elliott ; 
Farmer's  History,  Ross  and  Gatlin's  Landmarks  of 
Detroit,  Caroline  Watson  Hamlin's  charming  collec- 
tion of  legends,  Bancroft,  Lambert,  Lanman,  Campbell, 
Moore,  and  others. 

Although  the  recital  keeps  to  fact  in  all  important 
points,  "  A  Daughter  of  New  France  "  claims,  how- 
ever, to  be  only  a  novel.  Therefore  the  author  asks 
that  she  be  not  taken  to  task  by  sage  historians  if  in 
one  or  two  minor  instances  she  has  availed  herself 
of  the  novelist's  privilege  of  romancing. 

Dated  from 

'•THE  SPARROW'S  PERCH  UNDER  THE  EAVES," 
The  first  day  of  the  Twentieth  Century. 


Contents 


CHAPTER  FIRST.      "I  am  found  wanting"      ....  I 

CHAPTER  SECOND.      At  the  Widow  St.  Armand's       .  12 

CHAPTER  THIRD.     The  Stranger  Chevalier      ....  21 

CHAPTER  FOURTH.     Our  Sicur's  Acadian  Home  ...  37 

CHAPTER  FIFTH.     A  Messenger  to  Comic  Frontcnac      .  50 

CHAPTER  SIXTH.     The  Buccaneer's  Siege    .....  67 

CHAPTER  SEVENTH.      Our  English  Demoiselle       ...  78 

CHAPTER  EIGHTH.     From  the  Court  of  the  Sun  King      .  98 

CHAPTER  NINTH.     At  the  Intendant's  Palace        .     .     .  no 

CHAPTER  TENTH.      Fire-  Water    ........  125 

CHAPTER  ELEVENTH.     A  Great  Surprise      .....  141 

CHAPTER  TWELFTH.     Le  Detroit      .......  160 

CHAPTER  THIRTEENTH.     Place  aux  Dames  .....  176 

CHAPTER  FOURTEENTH.      An  Interview  with  Miladi  .     .  185 

CHAPTER  FIFTEENTH.      The  Red  Dwarf     .....  196 

CHAPTER  SIXTEENTH.     Schemers       .......  208 

CHAPTER  SEVENTEENTH.  "  The  Company  of  New  France  "  223 

CHAPTER  EIGHTEENTH.     The  Mysterious  Fire      .     .     .  234 

CHAPTER  NINETEENTH.     Our  Pretty  Commissioners  .     .  253 

CHAPTER  TWENTIETH.     The  Lodestone  of  Love  .     .     .  267 

CHAPTER  TWENTY-FIRST.     Every  Lover  is  a  Soldier      .  288 

CHAPTER  TWENTY-SECOND.     The  Lion  Bearded   .     .     .  303 


xii  CONTENTS 

P*gt 

CHAPTER  TWENTY-THIRD.     To  be  Shot  at  Sunrise     .      .  313 

CHAPTER  TWENTY-FOURTH.     In  the  Recollet's  Garden  .  332 

CHAPTER  TWENTY-FIFTH.     The  Red  Lilies      ....  348 

CHAPTER  TWENTY-SIXTH.     Wampum  and  Vermilion       .  357 

CHAPTER  TWENTY-SEVENTH.   Again  the  Gallant  Bostonnais  366 

CHAPTER  TWENTY-EIGHTH.  Sweet  as  the  Arbutus  Blossom  381 

CHAPTER  TWENTY-NINTH.     A  Romance  to  the  End       .  398 


Illustrations 


From  Drawings  by  Clyde  O.  De  Land 

"  He  caught  up  the  massive  piece  of  metal  and  hurled  it 

at  the  head  of  the  foppish  lieutenant "       .      .     .    Frontispiece 

"  She  advanced  a  step  or  two  toward  me  and  pointed  at 

me  with  the  staff" Page  116 

"  In  the  stern  of  the  canoe  sat  a  young  woman  fair  as  the 

white  fleurs-de-lis" "     180 

'«  Casting  upon  me  a  malignant  look,  and  with  a  last 

glance  through  the  window,  she  turned  away  "      .       "     218 

««  '  Monsieur  de  Cadillac,  I  beg  you  to  have  mercy  ! '  "       "     304 
«« 'Now  listen  to  «/,  Normand,'  she  began  at  last  "     .       "     387 


A  Daughter  of  New  France 


CHAPTER  FIRST 

"I  AM   FOUND  WANTING" 

IT  happened  one  afternoon  in  the  latter  part  of 
May,  1687.  I,  Denys  Normand  Guyon,  a  youth 
of  eighteen,  student  and  clerk,  was  at  work  in  the 
book-room  of  the  old  Recollet  Monastery  at  Quebec. 
The  old  monastery,  I  say,  meaning  not  the  fine  edi- 
fice that  looks  out  from  its  sanctuary  of  ancient  trees 
upon  the  Place  d'Armes,  opposite  to  the  new  Cha- 
teau of  St.  Louis,  but  the  first  small  home  of  the 
brothers  of  St.  Francis,  which  was  situated  at  the 
foot  of  the  cliff,  on  the  margin  of  the  little  River 
St.  Charles. 

My  task  was  the  copying  of  some  manuscript  notes 
upon  the  tongues  of  the  Indian  nations,  set  down  by 
a  Recollet  missionary,  after  much  painstaking  obser- 
vation and  study,  during  his  years  of  labor  among 
the  savages. 

Usually  I  loved  well  the  occupation,  having  a  talent 
for  the  acquiring  of  languages  and  an  ambition  for 
the  adventures  of  a  life  in  the  wilds,  albeit  no  great 
longing  to  exchange  my  scalp  for  the  crown  of  mar- 
tyrdom, as  the  author  of  this  aboriginal  grammar  had 
done.  For  he  was  most  cruelly  put  to  death  by  the 
treacherous  Iroquois,  notwithstanding  his  message  of 


2       A   DAUGHTER   OF   NEW   FRANCE 

peace  and  good-will,  and  his  bones  lie  somewhere  in 
the  trackless  forest,  sepultured  only  by  the  leaves 
and  mosses  and  the  tangled  vines  of  the  wilderness. 

Of  this  I  could  not  help  thinking  as  I  conned  the 
elegant  characters  upon  the  page  before  me,  recalling 
the  strange  contrasts  in  the  existence  of  this  man, 
bred  at  the  Court  of  France,  and  dying  far  from  the 
haunts  of  civilization,  a  victim  to  savage  hate  and  his 
own  sublime  zeal. 

There  was  a  fascination  even  in  trying  to  imitate 
the  lettering  as  closely  as  possible,  and  upon  my 
readiness  with  the  quill  I  prided  myself  not  a  little. 
But  the  more  my  thoughts  dwelt  upon  the  heroic 
Recollet,  the  oftener  my  gaze  strayed  through  the 
window  near  to  which  I  had  carried  my  writing-table 
—  to  gain  a  better  light,  I  told  myself. 

And  yet  there  was  need  of  no  excuse  to  draw  one 
to  the  contemplation  of  the  scene  that  outstretched 
before  me  in  the  plain. 

At  the  base  of  the  gray  rock  of  Quebec,  and  bor- 
dering the  silver  river,  lay  the  blooming  enclosure  of 
the  monastery  where  I  was  at  work,  the  pleasing 
grounds  of  the  Jesuits,  and  the  Gardens  of  the 
Intendant's  Palace.  Beyond  them  extended  wide 
meadows,  and  still  farther  to  the  west  rose  the  dark 
forests,  mysterious  and  impressive  in  their  primeval 
repose. 

On  this  May  afternoon,  now  waxing  late,  the  view 
seemed  to  me  as  a  glimpse  of  paradise ;  for  over  all 
the  landscape  was  the  beauty  of  spring,  and  the  rays 
of  the  setting  sun  shot  golden  arrows  into  the  sombre 
woods,  gilded  the  rude  houses  of  the  villages  of 
Lorette  and  Charlesbourg  across  the  river,  and 
touched  as  with  the  blessing  of  a  holy  hand  the  lofty 
mountains  of  Bonhomme  and  Tsoumonthuan. 


"I    AM    FOUND   WANTING "  3 

My  father,  Denys  Guyon,  a  wealthy  bourgeois, 
much  respected  in  the  town,  had  early  married  Eliz- 
abeth Boucher,  a  bright-eyed  and  thrifty  Canadienne 
of  his  own  rank  in  life.  Being  blessed  with  many 
sons  and  daughters,  they,  after  the  manner  of  the 
provident  parents  of  New  France  in  that  day,  laid 
out  the  future  of  these  children  according  to  their 
own  best  judgment,  with  but  slight  reference  to  the 
designs  of  Providence  or  the  wishes  of  those  most 
concerned,  it  appeared  to  me  afterwards,  although 
until  within  a  few  months  of  this  memorable  day  I 
had  not  ventured,  even  in  thought,  to  dispute  their 
choice  for  myself. 

Me  they  had  from  my  childhood  destined  for  the 
Church,  not  only  because  I  early  recognized  the 
splendor  and  dignity  of  the  sacred  ritual,  the  music 
of  the  holy  office,  but  because  I  had  ever  loved  the 
beauties  of  Nature. 

"  Normand  will  be  a  priest  and  a  missionary."  they 
said. 

Of  a  restless  mind,  eager  for  new  ideas  to  feed 
upon,  I  took  kindly  to  study,  and  dreamed  many  a 
dream  of  floating  away  down  the  St.  Lawrence  in  a 
canoe  manned  by  two  hardy  Algonquins,  or  of  cross- 
ing the  smiling  plain  whereon  I  now  looked  out,  to 
plunge  boldly  into  the  forest,  bearing  the  message  of 
the  Cross  to  the  red  man,  who  but  awaited  my  coming 
to  receive  it  with  docility  and  faith. 

In  these  visions  there  were  pictures  of  peril,  of 
strange  lands  and  faces,  of  hardships,  hunger,  and 
cold ;  but,  alack,  among  them  all  there  was  no  dream 
of  martyrdom ! 

On  the  contrary,  of  late,  a  doubt  had  sometimes 
crossed  my  mind  as  to  whether  there  was  in  my  soul 
a  capability  for  so  grand  a  mission  as  that  for  which 


4       A   DAUGHTER   OF   NEW   FRANCE 

I  was  designed ;  but  until  to-day  I  had  always  put 
away  the  question  as  a  temptation  from  the  Evil 
One. 

Although  my  father  had  placed  me  with  the  Re- 
collets,  I  had  not  yet  been  formally  accepted  by  them, 
nor  had  I  entered  upon  my  theological  studies; 
nevertheless,  despite  the  occasional  disquietude 
whereof  I  have  spoken,  I  thought  to  continue  to 
the  end  in  the  path  my  good  parents  had  selected 
for  me. 

My  work  forgotten,  I  continued  staring  out  upon, 
yet  only  half  seeing,  the  beautiful  panorama  lying 
before  me  in  the  sunshine.  So  absorbed  was  I  in 
my  reflections,  that  I  took  no  notice  of  the  entrance 
of  some  one  into  the  shadowy  room,  until  close  be- 
side me  a  rich  voice,  reproving  but  not  unduly  stern, 
said,  — 

"  Dreaming  again,  Normand?  " 

I  started,  and  pushing  the  table  from  me,  rose  to 
my  feet,  crimsoning  at  having  been  thus  caught  dal- 
lying, and  by  Frere  Constantin,  who  in  mild  firmness, 
virtue,  and  charm  of  manner  ever  seemed  to  me  the 
living,  breathing  spirit  of  the  blessed  Francis  of 
Assisi  himself. 

On  this  occasion  his  smile  assured  me  that  my 
fault  was  not  past  condoning,  and  with  his  hand 
upon  my  shoulder,  as  a  real  brother  might  caress  a 
younger,  he  drew  me  to  the  window  once  more. 

A  love  of  Nature  is,  indeed,  a  characteristic  of  the 
sons  of  the  gentle  saint  who  was  wont  to  hold  con- 
verse with  the  birds  and  fishes,  and  the  creatures  of 
the  field,  —  and  in  this  respect  at  least,  I  am  glad  to 
think,  I  was  not  altogether  unfitted  to  be  numbered 
among  his  followers. 

"The   heavens    and    earth    declare    the    glory    of 


"I   AM    FOUND   WANTING"  5 

God,"  murmured  Frfcre  Constantin,  softly.  "  Tell  me, 
boy,  whither  has  your  roving  fancy  sped  to-day?  " 

At  his  words  of  indulgence  my  diffidence  gave 
way.  I  am  naturally  of  a  reserved  temperament,  but 
he  was  and  has  ever  been  one  of  my  heroes ;  fur- 
thermore, I  was  much  wrought  up  over  the  remem- 
brance of  the  murdered  Recollet,  the  manuscript  of 
whose  scholarly  legacy  to  the  monastery  was  still  as 
fresh  as  when  it  came  from  his  hands. 

Therefore,  casting  constraint  to  the  winds,  I  poured 
out  my  heart,  with  all  its  misgivings  and  fears,  to  my 
kind  friend. 

"  I  am  glad  you  have  told  me  this,  Normand,"  said 
he,  when  I  had  finished,  "  for  upon  this  very  sub- 
ject I  am  sent  to  speak  to  you.  Do  not  fancy  that 
the  lack  you  have  noted  in  yourself  has  escaped  the 
watchful  eyes  of  those  in  whose  hands  your  future 
has  been  to  a  certain  extent  placed.  You  know 
that  in  the  selection  of  recruits  for  a  regiment  the 
most  assiduous  care  is  observed  to  choose  those  who 
are  stalwart  and  strong,  brave  and  amenable  to  rigid 
discipline,  that  the  troops  of  the  king  may  be  invin- 
cible. Especially  is  this  true  of  those  sent  out  from 
the  Old  World  to  encounter  the  rigors  of  the  climate 
and  the  perils  of  savage  warfare  here  in  New  France. 
Do  you  think  there  is  less  solicitude  bestowed  in  the 
selection  of  the  soldiers  of  the  King  of  Kings?  No, 
my  Normand,  far  from  it.  Now,  you  are  a  fair 
student,  and  you  love  our  revered  traditions ;  but  this 
affection,  it  has  been  noted,  is  rather  the  romantic 
love  of  a  poet  than  the  zeal  of  a  votary.  Your  dis- 
position is  too  dreamy  and  inclined  to  melancholy ; 
and  though,  thanks  to  your  fondness  for  the  winter 
sports  of  our  Canadian  youth  and  the  summer  pastimes 
of  boating,  bathing,  and  fishing,  you  have  the  frame 


6       A   DAUGHTER   OF   NEW   FRANCE 

suited  to  a  missionary,  yet  I  fear  me  your  strong 
right  hand  grasps  more  eagerly  at  the  sword  than 
at  the  Cross.  Moreover,  grave  and  quiet  as  you 
are,  it  has  been  remarked  that  even  during  the 
Sunday  services,  Normand,  your  glance  has  been 
wont  to  stray  somewhat  toward  the  young  demoi- 
selles, the  pupils  of  the  Ursulines,  who  by  reason  of 
the  recent  havoc  wrought  by  fire  in  the  Convent 
Chapel  come  to  our  church  for  the  grand  Mass; 
also,  that  you  do  not  altogether  shun  the  society  of 
those,  among  these  same  bright-eyed,  merry  maidens 
of  New  France,  who  as  companions  of  your  sister  and 
cousins  are  to  be  met  with  sometimes  in  your  home. 
Ah,  Normand,  Normand,  the  love  of  a  good  woman 
is  a  gracious  gift  and  to  many  a  man  it  has  meant  sal- 
vation," continued  Frere  Constantin  abstractedly ;  and 
his  thoughts,  I  surmised,  flew  back  to  an  episode 
of  his  own  youth  whereof  I  had  heard  report,  and 
which  I  will  set  down  later. 

"  Yes,  a  noble  gift,"  he  went  on  earnestly,  "  and  it 
behooves  him  who  seeks,  to  guard  worthily  the  treas- 
ure when  once  he  has  won  it.  But  what  has  a  mis- 
sionary to  do  with  the  treasures  of  earth,  boy?  He 
must  be  shackled  by  no  human  tie,  —  to  him  alone 
it  is  given  to  follow  as  perfectly  as  mere  human 
nature  can,  the  life  of  Christ. 

"  Do  not  misunderstand  me,  lad.  I  have  no  mind 
to  take  you  to  task  upon  the  matters  I  have  men- 
tioned,—  although  such  distractions  at  the  services  of 
the  Church  are  most  unseemly,  —  but  I  would  point 
out  that  the  turn  of  a  straw  shows  from  what  quarter 
is  the  wind,  and  whither  it  will  carry  the  chaff  as  well 
as  the  seed.  In  brief,  my  dear  Normand,  I  am  sent 
to  tell  you  that  for  the  life  to  which  you  have  aspired 
you  have  no  calling." 


"I   AM   FOUND   WANTING"  7 

For  a  moment  I  stood  as  one  dazed,  stupidly  re- 
garding the  commanding  figure  of  the  priest, —  my 
friend,  as  I  even  then  felt  assured.  My  heart  seemed 
turned  to  ice ;  scarcely  could  I  credit  that  I  had  heard 
aright. 

"  I  thought  it  but  just  to  inform  you  of  this  de- 
cision before  it  is  conveyed  to  monsieur  your  father 
and  madame  your  excellent  mother,"  he  concluded 
gravely,  as  I  did  not  speak. 

Then,  all  at  once,  the  chill  in  my  breast  became  as 
fire,  and  my  soul  was  swept  by  a  torrent  of  emotion 
as  tempestuous  as  the  current  of  La  Chine.  How 
petty  now  appeared  my  ignoble  shrinking  from  the 
life  of  zeal  for  which  I  had  been  bred,  my  foolish 
turning  aside  from  the  fair  ideal  even  for  an  instant! 
Alas,  how  true  is  the  saying  "  Happiness  is  composed 
of  so  many  pieces  that  one  is  always  missing  "  ! 

Now,  as  the  destiny  marked  out  for  me  by  my 
parents  receded  from  me,  I  would  have  been  will- 
ing to  die  to  obtain  it. 

That  the  decision  was  irrevocable,  I  well  knew, 
however,  and  turning  to  the  spot  where  lately  I  had 
been  at  work,  —  it  now  seemed  to  me  so  happily, — 
I  flung  myself  into  the  chair,  and  bending  over  the 
table  rested  my  head  upon  my  arms  and  burst  into 
tears. 

How  often  one  may  do  more  good  by  his  sym- 
pathy than  even  by  his  toil ! 

11  Poor  boy !  "  exclaimed  Father  Constantin,  com- 
passionately laying  a  gentle  hand  upon  my  hair, 
which  little  Barbe  was  wont  to  say  was  as  thick  as 
the  fur  of  her  pelisse.  "  Poor  boy !  It  is  natural 
you  should  grieve  to  see  your  life's  ambition  swept 
away  with  as  short  warning  as  comes  the  springtime 
flood  of  our  great  river.  Let  this  console  you,  in  no 


8       A   DAUGHTER   OF   NEW   FRANCE 

grave  matter  are  you  to  blame.  For  the  talent  God 
has  not  given,  He  will  not  ask  an  account.  As 
to  your  disappointment,  —  the  gem  cannot  be  per- 
fected without  friction,  nor  the  man  without  trials ; 
and  the  voyageurs,  you  know,  have  a  saying,  '  Every 
one  must  row  with  the  oars  he  has.'  " 

Having  essayed  thus  to  comfort  me,  my  good 
friend  went  away,  divining  that  I  would  rather  be 
alone  to  face  as  best  I  might  the  new  idea  of  my 
future  thus  unexpectedly  presented  to  me. 

For  a  time  I  remained  as  he  had  left  me,  sunk  in 
despondency.  I  had  been  weighed  in  the  balance 
and  had  been  found  wanting! 

It  was  not  a  pleasant  revelation,  and  presently  I 
began  to  ask  myself  with  some  perturbation  what  my 
father  would  say  to  it  all. 

Denys  Guyon  was  known  to  be  a  stern  and  deter- 
mined man,  quickly  moved  to  anger  if  his  will  was 
thwarted  in  the  least  degree. 

Would  he  believe  I  was  not  to  blame?  Rather, 
would  he  not  visit  upon  me  the  displeasure  of  his 
disappointment?  And  my  mother,  —  how  it  cha- 
grined me  to  blight  her  fondest  hopes ! 

Nevertheless,  "  youth  and  white  paper  soon  take 
an  impression ;  "  erelong  I  was  in  imagination  writ- 
ing out  the  plan  of  my  life  afresh  and  finding  an 
interest  in  the  doing;  for  I  was  again  in  dreams 
the  hero  of  adventures  strange  and  wonderful,  a 
hero  in  a  different  garb  and  guise. 

Lost  in  this  new  reverie,  I  did  not  notice  the  lapse 
of  time  until  the  deepening  of  the  shadows  in  the 
long  room  reminded  me  that  the  calm  May  twilight 
had  come. 

I  rose  with  a  sigh,  gathered  up  the  priceless  Recol- 
let  manuscript,  returned  it  to  its  envelope  of  birch 


"I   AM   FOUND   WANTING"  9 

bark,  locked  it  in  the  cupboard  in  the  wall  reserved 
for  similar  treasures,  and  carried  the  key  to  the  libra- 
rian, whom  I  found  in  his  cell  at  the  end  of  the 
corridor.  Then,  taking  my  cap,  I  went  out  into  the 
dusk,  and  home. 

Our  house  would  not  be  considered  of  much  pre- 
tension nowadays  (1735),  yet  it  was  as  important  as 
any  of  those  which  at  that  time  clustered  about  the 
gardens  and  palace  of  the  Intendant,  the  Bishop's 
residence,  or  the  Convent  of  the  Ursulines ;  for  my 
father  was  one  of  the  most  prosperous  merchants  of 
Quebec. 

Because  of  the  fires  frequent  along  the  river  bank, 
he  had  built,  on  the  street  of  St.  Pierre  in  the  Lower 
Town,  a  two-story  dwelling  of  stone,  rough  as  taken 
from  the  rock.  The  exterior  wall,  even  at  the  north, 
was  unplastered,  which  gave  it,  many  said,  an  unfin- 
ished air.  This  rugged  appearance  I  preferred,  how- 
ever,— an  oddity  of  taste  that  my  good  mother  and 
sisters  could  not  understand,  as  also  others  I  might 
name.  Within  doors,  the  first  floor  was  taken  up 
with  warehouses,  wherein  were  piled  to  the  beams 
the  rich  furs  of  the  otter,  beaver,  and  silver  fox,  the 
pelts  of  the  bear,  the  wolf,  and  the  buffalo,  which  had 
been  floated  down  in  canoes  from  the  wilderness  of 
the  Northwest;  here  also  were  sold  at  intervals  the 
shimmering  satins,  brocades,  and  other  goods  that 
came  in  the  ships  from  France  or  were  brought  by 
my  uncle  Guyon  as  spoils  from  the  sea. 

Above,  we  lived ;  and  although  being  so  numerous 
a  family  we  were  somewhat  crowded,  still  this  home 
was  not  incommodious,  since  we  had  moreover  a 
large  garden  wherein  grew  cherry  and  other  trees 
and  fragrant  shrubs.  Here  during  the  mild  weather 
we  spent  many  hours ;  for  the  people  of  New  France 


io     A   DAUGHTER   OF   NEW   FRANCE 

love  to  pass  the  too  brief  summer  in  the  open  air, 
whereas  in  winter  't  is  ever  "  the  smaller  the  cote  the 
snugger  the  birds." 

This  evening,  upon  reaching  the  house,  I  found  the 
family  at  the  supper-table.  I  remember  well  there 
were  served  at  the  meal  the  "  galettes  au  beurre,"  or 
fine  bread,  that  I  liked,  and  dainty  "  croquecignoles," 
to  which  delicious  little  cakes  I  also  had  ever  done 
full  justice. 

To-night  I  had  so  light  relish  for  them  that  my 
mother  remarked  upon  my  want  of  appetite.  My 
father  throughout  the  repast  was  silent  and  pre- 
occupied. At  first  I  wondered  with  alarm  if  he  had 
already  received  the  communication  relating  to  me 
from  Father  Constantin ;  but  as  he  rose  to  go  out,  I 
heard  him  say  to  "  la  bonne  mere  "  that  he  had  just 
bought  a  rich  cargo  of  goods  from  his  brother  at 
Beauport,  the  freight  of  a  galleon  captured  on  the 
Spanish  Main. 

Thereafter  the  interest  of  my  mother  seemed  for 
the  time  engrossed  by  this  purchase.  No  doubt  she 
was  planning  how  to  induce  the  prudent  man  to  re- 
serve a  fair  number  of  lengths  of  the  silk  stuffs  for 
her  daughters,  with  perchance  a  gold  chain  in  addi- 
tion for  herself,  notwithstanding  the  demand  there 
would  be  when  it  became  known  that  a  new  supply 
of  fine  fabrics  and  trinkets  of  novel  style  and  work- 
manship were  to  be  obtained  in  the  town. 

It  was  not  a  favorable  hour  to  broach  so  unwel- 
come a  topic  as  my  dismissal  by  the  Recollets  and 
the  frustration  of  all  her  designs  for  me. 

"  If  Therese  were  only  here,"  I  muttered  under  my 
breath.  Yet  even  so,  would  not  she  also  have  been 
too  dazzled  by  the  glamour  of  the  gay  apparel  in  pros- 
pect, to  spare  me  any  but  a  wandering  attention,  did 


"I   AM    FOUND   WANTING"  n 

I  attempt  to  whisper  to  her  my  story?  Nevertheless, 
it  was  ever  to  this  sweet  sister  —  two  years  younger 
than  myself,  but  the  oldest  daughter  of  my  parents 
—  that  I  was  wont  to  come  with  my  confidences,  sure 
of  a  ready  sympathy  and  much  good  counsel.  And 
't  was  she  who  knew  me  better  than  any  one  else,  un- 
less, perhaps,  Frere  Constantin. 

But  Therese  (Marie  Th^rese)  was  away  on  a  visit 
to  Beauport,  at  the  home  of  our  uncle  Francois 
Guyon,  from  whom  my  father  had  bought  the  goods 
intended  by  the  shippers  for  the  Court  of  Spain. 

I  missed  her ;  I  missed  the  musical  laughter  of  the 
merry-hearted  demoiselles  her  companions  who  were 
wont  to  gather  about  her  in  our  garden  under  the 
cherry-trees,  —  a  company  I  was  sometimes  not  loath 
to  join,  though  how  news  of  this  reached  the  ears  of 
the  Recollets  I  know  not. 

Seeking  distraction  from  my  own  thoughts,  I  went 
out  into  the  street.  On  the  whole,  I  was  glad  there 
was  no  need  to  disclose  to  any  one  the  change  in  my 
expectations  that  night 


CHAPTER  SECOND 

AT  THE   WIDOW   ST.   ARMAND'S 

FOR  a  time  I  strolled  idly,  loitered  beneath  the 
trees  that  line  the  battery  at  the  edge  of  the 
river,  and  then  continued  across  the  Market  Place 
and  on  without  object  through  the  narrow  streets  of 
the  Lower  Town. 

The  strong  magazines  where  the  merchants  housed 
their  peltries,  stores,  and  casks  of  brandy,  were 
shrouded  in  gloom  below,  but  twinkled  with  lights 
above  when,  as  was  usually  the  case,  the  dwelling 
of  the  proprietor  was  under  the  same  roof  as  the 
storehouse.  There  was,  besides,  plenty  of  life  in  the 
quarter,  for  the  wine-shops  were  all  open  and,  as 
ever,  doing  a  thriving  business. 

Not  all  of  these  cabarets,  or  public  houses,  were  low 
drinking-places,  however;  a  number  were  "  cercles," 
or  meeting-rooms  of  the  raconteurs  and  wits  of  the 
day.  Here  the  privateer  told  of  his  wondrous  ad- 
ventures on  the  high  seas  ;  the  members  of  the 
famous  regiment  of  Carignan-Sallieres  recalled  their 
happy  life  in  Old  France,  or  narrated  their  exploits 
in  the  campaign  against  the  Turks.  Here,  at  times, 
even  an  official  of  the  civil  government  so  far  unbent 
his  dignity  as  to  taste  of  a  wine  of  rare  vintage,  ob- 
tained very  possibly  from  the  plunder  of  an  enemy's 
ships;  or,  if  nothing  better  offered,  here  he  conde- 
scended to  pass  judgment  upon  a  particularly  fine 
grade  of  Canadian  "  eau  de  vie." 


AT  THE   WIDOW  ST.   ARMAND'S      13 

As  I  passed  the  Widow  St.  Armand's,  a  shop  of 
this  better  class,  a  glimpse  of  the  company  within 
caused  me  to  pause  before  the  door,  which  was  set 
open  because  of  the  mildness  of  the  evening,  and 
also  the  more  to  attract  customers. 

A  party  of  officers  from  the  fort  were  seated  at  the 
first  of  the  tables.  Before  each  stood  one  of  the 
brightly  burnished  goblets  in  which  the  wine  was 
served,  and  they  were  telling  stories.  I  entered 
quietly,  took  a  seat  in  a  corner,  and  for  an  excuse 
to  remain,  ordered  a  measure  of  cider. 

Among  the  group  whose  presence  had  attracted 
me  were  Lieutenant  Jacques  Sabrevois  of  Captain 
Desque"nac's  company,  whom  I  knew  as  a  suitor  for 
the  hand  of  my  sister  The>e'se,  and  his  friend  De 
la  Parelle. 

They  spoke  aloud,  as  not  caring  who  might  hear ; 
and  their  talk  and  badinage  was  of  so  general  a 
character  that  I  did  not  scruple  being  an  auditor, 
the  less  since  they  could  see  I  was  there  and  might 
moderate  their  tone  if  they  wished. 

As  I  lingered  thus,  unwilling  to  go  home  lest  the 
inevitable  scene  with  my  father  might  come  that 
night  after  all,  in  the  doorway,  of  a  sudden  appeared 
a  remarkable  figure,  at  whose  entrance  I  sprang  up, 
and  then  fell  back  in  my  place,  my  eyes  riveted  upon 
the  newcomer  in  a  species  of  fascination. 

The  new  guest  crossed  the  room  with  an  impatient 
stride,  and,  seating  himself  at  a  table  apart  from  the 
others,  called  for  a  cup  of  wine  in  the  imperious  tone 
of  one  whose  temper  has  been  ruffled  and  not  with 
impunity  by  the  offender. 

Even  in  those  days  of  strange  Indian  apparitions 
from  the  forest,  of  half-savage  coureurs  de  bois,  and 
gayly  garbed  habitans,  of  gorgeously  apparelled  civil 


i4     A   DAUGHTER   OF   NEW   FRANCE 

and  military  functionaries  and  richly  vested  ecclesias- 
tics, even  in  those  days  I  had  never  beheld  so  pic- 
turesque a  personality. 

The  stranger  was  a  man  of  some  twenty-six  years 
of  age,  a  trifle  above  the  middle  height,  but  of  so 
commanding  an  aspect  as  to  appear  taller.  His  well- 
developed  physique  was  displayed  to  perfection  by 
his  blue  uniform,  which  was  that  of  a  lieutenant; 
instead  of  a  peruke,  he  wore  his  own  hair  loose  and 
unpowdered,  and  as  he  cast  upon  the  table  his  cava- 
lier's hat  adorned  with  a  long  white  feather,  I  noted 
how  shapely  was  the  head  set  upon  the  broad  square 
shoulders. 

His  complexion  was  swarthy,  betokening  a  Gascon 
origin,  and  I  should  have  said  at  the  time  that  his 
eyes  were  black,  but  I  afterwards  knew  them  to  be 
of  the  color  and  glint  of  steel,  and  very  keen  and 
piercing.  He  presented  in  many  points  a  contrast 
to  the  officers  at  the  other  table,  particularly  to 
Sabrevois,  who  was  a  military  exquisite  given  to 
posing  before  the  demoiselles  of  the  distinguished 
society  of  the  town,  until  of  late  he  had  fixed  upon 
my  sister  Therese  as  the  object  of  his  amorous 
devotion. 

Being,  as  I  learned  later,  slightly  acquainted  with 
the  solitary  guest,  and  no  doubt  wishing  to  convey 
an  impression  of  his  own  importance,  Sabrevois 
accosted  him. 

"  My  friend,  Quebec  is  new  to  you,"  he  called 
loftily  from  the  end  of  the  room  near  the  door. 
"  Come  with  us  and  we  will  show  you  the  sights 
of  the  town." 

The  invitation  was  fair  enough,  but  the  accents 
were  those  of  a  too  familiar  raillery ;  moreover,  the 
speech  was  greeted  by  an  untimely  laugh  from  his 


AT  THE   WIDOW   ST.   ARMAND'S      15 

companions,  who  had  begun  to  wax  jocund  from 
the  effects  of  the  wine  they  had  drunk. 

For  answer  the  foreign  officer  vouchsafed  the  cox- 
comb merely  a  scowl,  and  turning  away  his  gaze, 
looked  into  his  goblet,  indifferent  to  the  presence  of 
any  one  in  the  room ;  yes,  indifferent  even  to  the 
admiring  glances  of  the  handsome  Widow  St.  Ar- 
mand,  the  charming  "  marchande  du  vins,"  who, 
albeit  a  most  exemplary  woman,  was  wont  to  enhance 
the  bouquet  of  her  wines  by  smiles  the  most  bewitch- 
ing and  coquetry  the  most  beguiling,  yet  solely  in  a 
general  way  and  with  a  cool  eye  to  the  prosperity  of 
her  business. 

"  So  ho !  monsieur  lieutenant !  "  cried  Sabrevois, 
angry  that  his  offer  should  be  thus  ignored.  •  "  Mani- 
festly it  is  not  from  the  Court  of  France  you  come 
with  such  manners ;  and  the  same  are  additional  evi- 
dence that  you  are  an  alien  in  Quebec.  Here,  it  may 
be  a  kindness  to  inform  you,  we  are  somewhat  more 
formal  and  gracious  of  address." 

Every  word  of  this  satirical  outburst  was  intended 
to  cut  like  a  sword-thrust. 

While  thus  giving  expression  to  his  resentment,  the 
speaker  had  risen  and  now  stood  facing  the  still  silent 
stranger  with  the  scornful  air  of  a  gamecock,  as  he 
flecked  an  imaginary  speck  of  dust  from  his  costly 
coat  with  his  lace-bordered  handkerchief,  and  waved 
his  hat  plume  downward  in  an  elaborately  ironical 
bow,  as  though  preparatory  to  departure. 

The  chevalier  whom  this  display  of  elegance  and 
haughtiness  was  meant  to  disconcert,  had  shifted  his 
position  and  was  now  surveying  the  petulant  Sabre- 
vois with  an  amused  smile. 

"  Thanks,  monsieur,  for  your  disinterested  counsel, 
and,  withal,  your  courteous  invitation,"  he  conde- 


16      A   DAUGHTER   OF   NEW   FRANCE 

scended  to  say  at  last,  with  mocking  politeness ;  "  but 
I  would  not  venture  to  stroll  with  you  through  the 
town  in  the  moonlight,  lest  I  might  thereby  be  put 
at  too  great  disadvantage.  Were  I  Captain  Desque- 
naCj  _  if  my  memory  fails  me  not,  you  were  presented 
to  me  as  belonging  to  his  command, — were  I  Captain 
Desquenac,  I  should  feel  compelled  to  confine  you  to 
your  quarters  at  the  fort." 

"And  wherefore,  pray  may  I  ask?"  demanded 
Sabrevois,  thrown  off  his  guard  by  the  other's  non- 
chalance. 

"Wherefore?"  repeated  the  officer,  who  was  un- 
known to  me.  "  Because  I  would  not  think  it  safe 
to  have  so  gallant  a  coxcomb  strutting  about  among 
the  ladies.  You  are  much  too  dangerous  a  rival  for 
the  favor  of  the  fair  sex  to  be  permitted  to  go  at 
large,  my  brave  lieutenant." 

"  Sacr£ !  If  you  had  a  lady  love,  monsieur,  I 
should  of  a  surety  outrival  you,"  broke  out  Sabrevois, 
with  new  fury. 

"That  he  would,"  interjected  the  young  Marquis 
de  Parelle;  "and  you  would  never  have  the  wit 
to  perceive  it  until  given  your  dismissal  by  the  fair 
one," 

"  Wit?  Pardon,  that  is  your  inheritance,  I  presume, 
my  good  marquis,"  retorted  their  adversary  forth- 
with, also  starting  up ;  and  to  Sabrevois  he  added 
with  a  sneer:  "As  for  you,  my  friend,  hero  as  I 
understand  you  are  among  the  demoiselles  and 
petted  by  the  Intendant,  and  although  I  am  alone 
and  you  are  supported  by  your  companions,  I  am 
tempted  to  give  you  the  thorough  thrashing  whereof 
you  are  so  sadly  in  need.  But  alack,  even  thus  en- 
forced, I  fear  you  are  too  weak  for  my  prowess." 

"  This  to  me,  the  best  athlete  in  the  Carignan  regi- 


AT  THE   WIDOW   ST.   ARMAND'S      17 

ment !  "  stormed  Sabrevois.  "  A  thrashing  from 
you  or  any  one !  In  faith,  you  will  find  me  worthy 
of  my  name ;  you  shall  not  only  see  but  feel  my 
sabre ;  "  and  he  snatched  it  forth  with  a  flourish. 

At  the  same  instant  the  blade  of  the  stranger  flashed 
in  his  hand. 

The  Widow  St.  Armand  screamed  and  sped  to  the 
door. 

"  Hold,  hold,  Monsieur  de  la  Mothe,"  cried  De  la 
Parelle,  rushing  between  the  two  excited  men,  while 
his  comrades  tried  to  pull  Sabrevois  away.  "  Hold, 
or  we  shall  all  be  court-martialed." 

He  who  had  been  called  De  la  Mothe  let  his  sword 
fall  back  in  its  scabbard,  finding  that  he  was  to  have 
no  chance  to  use  it. 

Protected  by  the  others,  Sabrevois,  however,  con- 
tinued to  hurl  invectives  and  insulting  epithets  at 
him. 

Chafing  because  he  could  not  get  at  his  antago- 
nists, the  stranger  chevalier  stood  beside  the  table. 
Thereon,  close  at  his  hand,  was  set  a  heavy  copper 
candlestick  in  which  lights  were  burning.  Beside 
himself  with  rage,  and  on  the  impulse  of  the  moment, 
he  caught  up  the  massive  piece  of  metal  and  hurled 
it  at  the  head  of  the  foppish  lieutenant 

Sabrevois  fell  to  the  floor  with  a  groan,  and  the 
room  was  left  in  darkness. 

As  the  lights  went  out,  I  had  seen  the  Marquis 
spring  toward  De  la  Mothe,  but  the  latter  must  have 
eluded  him.  There  was  an  authoritative  call  for 
candles,  and  the  confusion  was  enhanced  by  the 
moans  of  the  wounded  man. 

From  their  voices  I  knew  that  the  party  were  still 
between  me  and  the  door,  gathered  about  their  fallen 
-comrade.  In  another  moment  a  light  would  be 


1 8     A   DAUGHTER   OF   NEW   FRANCE 

struck,  or  the  widow,  having  raised  an  alarm  in  the 
neighborhood,  would  lead  the  watch  hither  with  their 

lanterns. 

To  me  no  one  had  paid  any  heed  from  the  be- 
ginning. My  opportunity  was  now  come,  how- 
ever. Near  me  I  heard  a  sound  as  of  some  one 
breathing. 

Although  I  heartily  disliked  Sabrevois,  I  had  no 
wish  to  see  him  murdered.  Nevertheless,  he  had 
provoked  the  altercation  and  the  odds  had  been 
against  the  stranger. 

Moreover,  so  strong  was  the  attraction  which  this 
mysterious  De  la  Mothe  had  already  begun  to  exert 
upon  me,  that  I  could  not  let  pass  the  occasion  to 
serve  him. 

Again  came  that  deep  respiration,  as  of  a  lion  at 
bay. 

"  Monsieur,"  I  whispered  very  low,  stealing  along 
by  the  wall  to  the  spot  whence  the  sound  came, 
"  there  is  an  exit  in  the  rear ;  come  with  me,  I  beg 
of  you." 

I  stretched  out  my  hand ;  it  touched  his  sleeve.  He 
drew  back,  but  I  clung  to  him  with  silent  persistency ; 
and  he  yielded  after  a  second,  yet  almost  as  one  hu- 
mors a  child. 

By  groping  along  the  side  of  the  room,  I  led  him 
swiftly  to  a  door  which  opened  upon  a  little  passage 
connecting  with  a  narrow  street  behind  that  whereon 
the  shop  faced;  for  who  knows  better  than  I  the 
rambling,  climbing  lanes  as  well  as  the  more  preten- 
tious thoroughfares  of  the  old  town  of  Quebec? 

Whether  the  officers  had  a  knowledge  of  this  exit 
I  cannot  say ;  but  if  so,  in  the  commotion  they  must 
have  forgotten  it.  We  got  away  without  being  inter- 
cepted. Still  in  silence  I  guided  the  stranger  by  a 


AT   THE   WIDOW   ST.   ARMAND'S      19 

circuitous  route,  until  we  had  put  half  a  mile  between 
us  and  the  scene  of  the  quarrel. 

At  length,  being  a  few  paces  in  advance,  I  waited 
for  him  to  come  up  with  me,  and  then  turning 
said, — 

"  Monsieur,  will  you  come  home  with  me?  There 
is  a  summer-house  in  our  garden  where  you  can  lie 
concealed  for  a  brief  interval,  or  while  we  contrive  a 
way  to  get  you  to  the  house  of  my  uncle,  Francois 
Guyon,  at  Beauport;  thence  you  may  obtain  trans- 
portation to  some  port  where  you  will  be  in  no  dan- 
ger from  the  friends  of  the  man  down  yonder." 

At  the  mention  of  my  uncle's  name,  I  thought  the 
chevalier  started,  but  when  I  had  finished  speaking 
he  broke  into  a  laugh. 

"  Ha,  ha !  You  are  a  stanch  youth,"  he  exclaimed. 
"  How  it  comes  that  I  have  unexpectedly  found  so 
loyal  an  adherent  I  do  not  know,  but  your  friendly 
act  in  disentangling  me  from  an  unpleasant  dilemma 
I  gratefully  acknowledge  and  hope  I  may  have 
the  good  fortune  to  requite  some  day.  Yet  do  not 
imagine  I  have  killed  the  coxcomb ;  he  cried  out 
much  too  lustily  for  that.  I  aimed  but  to  graze 
his  features,  and  perchance  have  marred  them  a  bit 
for  the  nonce  and  spoiled  his  fine  coat,  since  such  as 
he  bleed  easily  at  the  nose.  As  for  flight?  Non- 
sense! I  will  go  to  my  lodgings,  where  I  can  be 
found  if  I  am  wanted.  Even  the  unenviable  notoriety 
of  a  fray  in  a  wine-shop  is  preferable  to  sneaking 
away  like  a  poltroon.  Nevertheless,  boy,  I  am  as 
much  in  your  debt  as  though  the  matter  were  graver. 
Accept  my  thanks,  I  will  not  forget  you."  He  clasped 
my  hand  warmly.  "  So  Francois  Guyon  is  your 
uncle !  My  compliments  to  him  when  you  see  him 
again.  Good-night" 


20     A   DAUGHTER  OF   NEW   FRANCE 

And  with  a  light  laugh  he  started  up  the  street, 
waving  me  an  adieu  as  he  went,  and  trolling  a  stanza 
of  "  La  jolie  Canadienne"  as  unconcernedly  as  though 
that  massive  candlestick  had  been  but  a  feather- 
weight. 


CHAPTER  THIRD 

THE  STRANGER  CHEVALIER 

IT  was  as  I  anticipated.  The  next  day,  when  word 
came  to  my  father  that  I  had  not  the  qualities  to 
fit  me  for  a  good  Recollet,  he  stormed  and  well-nigh 
cursed  me,  declaring  that  henceforth  he  washed  his 
hands  of  me,  I  might  choose  my  own  future,  —  a  dec- 
laration whereat  in  my  heart  I  rejoiced,  albeit  I  felt 
he  was  unduly  harsh,  since  how  could  I  be  account- 
able for  what  Providence  had  not  given  me? 

I  had  previously  mustered  courage  to  tell  my 
mother  of  my  dismissal,  and  all  day  her  eyes  showed 
only  too  plainly  a  redness  caused  by  frequent  weeping. 
But  at  the  first  stern  word  from  my  father  she  forgave 
me  for  the  disappointment  I  had  occasioned  her,  and 
spoke  for  me,  pleading  my  cause  against  his  wrath, 
as  a  mother,  Heaven  bless  her,  is  ever  wont  to  shield 
her  son,  however  unworthy  he  may  be.  With  these 
concerns  of  my  own  to  the  fore,  I  had  small  leisure 
to  speculate  upon  the  outcome  of  the  last  night's 
quarrel  at  the  shop  of  the  Widow  St.  Armand. 

Still  the  thought  of  it  did  cross  my  mind  many 
times.  I  wondered  if  the  lieutenant  was  badly  hurt, 
and  whether  the  chevalier,  whom  I  had  heard  named 
De  la  Mothe,  remained  boldly  at  his  lodgings,  or  if 
upon  second  consideration  he  had  concluded  to  make 
good  his  escape  while  there  was  yet  opportunity. 

But  for  the  unhappiness  I  had  already  brought  to 
my  mother,  I  thought  to  inform  her  of  the  adventure; 


22     A    DAUGHTER   OF    NEW    FRANCE 

yet,  so  unreasonable  are  women,  would  she  not  in 
that  case  take  me  to  task  for  having  to  do  with  a  wine 
brawl?  I  held  my  peace,  therefore.  However,  by 
noon  the  town  was  ringing  with  the  story  of  the 
encounter.  The  rumor  quickly  followed  that  the 
condition  of  Sabrevois  was  serious  and  the  stranger 
officer  had  been  arrested  and  was  to  be  brought  be- 
fore a  court-martial  on  the  morrow. 

In  the  evening  my  father  ignored  me,  but  I  fancied 
I  detected  a  darker  cloud  upon  his  brow,  and  my 
mother  sighed  frequently  as  though  there  were  a  new 
sorrow  in  her  heart. 

I  preserved  a  quiet  though  perchance  somewhat  sul- 
len exterior,  yet  my  blood  grew  hot  in  my  veins.  I 
understood  that  my  parents  were  grieved  and  anxious 
on  account  of  what  had  befallen  Sabrevois,  whom,  be- 
cause of  his  family  connections  and  favor  with  those 
in  authority,  and  also  because  he  had  a  fair  income 
besides  his  pay  as  an  officer,  they  were  willing  to  ac- 
cept as  a  son-in-law. 

In  a  savage  humor  I  slipped  away  at  last  to  the 
sleeping-room  which  I  shared  with  my  younger 
brothers.  Fortunately  for  my  frame  of  mind,  they 
were  already  well  on  the  voyage  to  dreamland; 
where  is  the  active  lad  who,  as  soon  as  his  head 
touches  the  pillow,  is  not  launched  upon  a  repose 
as  profound  as  that  of  the  Seven  Sleepers  of 
Ephesus? 

For  me,  I  was  a  care-free  lad  no  longer,  but  a 
youth  perplexed  as  to  how  I  should  acquire  my  in- 
dependence, pained  at  the  thought  that  if  Sabrevois 
recovered,  Therese,  against  her  inclination  but  from 
a  sense  of  filial  duty,  might  be  constrained  to  marry 
him,  and  haunted  by  a  dread  lest,  if  Sabrevois  did 
not  recover,  misfortune  might  befall  the  man  who, 


THE   STRANGER   CHEVALIER          23 

although  I  did  not  then  know  it,  was  to  influence  my 
future  through  happiness  and  trial. 

Thus  wakeful,  I  tossed  upon  my  bed.  As  I  was 
indeed  young,  however,  and  in  perfect  health,  slum- 
ber came  at  last,  and  I  dreamed  I  had  set  out  with 
the  Chevalier  de  la  Mothe  for  the  ends  of  the  earth, 
bidding  adieu  forever  to  my  boyhood's  home  and 
the  storm-beaten  Rock  of  Quebec. 

Hard  by  his  residence  my  father  had  another  ware- 
house wherein  were  stored  the  iron  implements,  the 
corn,  flax,  eau  de  vie,  wines,  and  other  commodities 
in  which  he  dealt.  Here  he  spent  much  time,  as 
also  on  the  Esplanade,  where  the  merchants  were  often 
wont  to  meet  their  customers.  On  the  day  following 
that  whereon  he  had  appeared  so  troubled,  he  came 
home  with  a  more  hopeful  air. 

"  There  is  more  encouraging  news,"  he  announced  to 
my  mother;  "the  wound  of  our  friend  the  lieuten- 
ant is  no  longer  deemed  serious,  though  the  surgeons 
say  he  will  carry  the  scar  to  his  dying  day.  His  as- 
sailant has  been  sentenced  to  a  term  of  imprisonment 
in  the  fort.  A  pretty  fracas,  truly." 

"  Ay,  ay,"  agreed  "  la  bonne  mere,"  with  a  nod  of 
the  head,  yet  she  grew  forthwith  the  cheerier. 

I  too  breathed  freer  that  Sabre vois'  summons  had 
not  yet  come,  but  it  was,  I  fear,  principally  because 
his  taking  leave  of  the  world  at  this  time  might  have 
embarrassed  the  chevalier  who  had  so  unceremoni- 
ously stepped  into  my  life  as  its  hero. 

But,  sacrt,  had  not  Sabrevois  nearly  done  his  worst, 
as  it  was?  Here  was  my  grand  chevalier  shut  up  in 
the  citadel,  for  no  one  could  tell  how  long,  unless  it 
might  occur  to  the  Governor,  the  Sieur  Denonville, 
to  inquire  into  the  matter.  And  why  was  it,  after  all, 


24     A   DAUGHTER   OF   NEW   FRANCE 

but  for  a  slight  misunderstanding,  whereof  Sabrevois 
had  taken  a  mean  advantage;  since,  had  his  head 
been  harder  and  his  bray  less  loud,  and  had  his 
friends  not  raised  such  a  cry,  there  would  have 
been  an  end  of  the  matter. 

And  now,  here  was  the  court-martial !  I  pictured 
the  bold  De  la  Mothe  facing  his  military  judges,  as 
I  had  seen  him,  —  in  his  dashing  uniform  and  high 
riding-boots,  in  his  hand  his  broad-brimmed  hat,  its 
long  feather  sweeping  the  ground ;  the  Chevalier  de 
la  Mothe,  haughty,  scornful,  hearing  his  sentence 
with  an  air  of  arrogant  indifference.  And  then  I 
thought  of  him  as  eating  his  heart  out  from  inactivity 
in  the  donjon  of  the  fortress. 

For  days  I  haunted  the  shadow  of  the  palisades, 
revolving  in  my  mind  various  schemes  to  effect  his 
release,  yet  forced  to  abandon  one  after  another  as 
too  wild  to  admit  of  successful  execution. 

My  time  was  my  own,  since  my  father  continued 
to  ignore  me  as  one  under  the  ban  of  his  displeasure. 
These  strained  relations  could  not  be  long  endured, 
however,  and  I  was  resolved  to  cut  loose  from  all 
old  associations  and  set  out  to  make  my  own  way  in 
the  world.  How  and  where  ?  —  that  was  the  question. 

Such  was  the  state  of  affairs  when  one  day  "  la 
bonne  mere  "  said  to  me,  — 

"  Normand,  it  is  your  father's  wish  that  you  ride 
out  to  Beauport  and  bring  home  Therese."  This  was 
the  first  glad  happening  for  a  week. 

"  Surely,  mother,  I  will  go  at  once,"  I  answered  with 
alacrity,  and  began  forthwith  to  make  preparation. 

In  the  stable  I  found  the  bay  horse  Feu  Follet 
champing  in  his  stall,  and  as  ready  for  the  journey  as 
I.  Bridling  and  saddling  him,  I  added  a  pillion  for 
TheVese  and  the  saddle-bags,  knowing  full  well  that 


THE   STRANGER   CHEVALIER          25 

"  la  bonne  mere  "  would  have  some  dainties  to  send 
to  my  aunt  by  way  of  neighborly  remembrance. 

Nor  was  I  mistaken,  for,  when  I  rode  around  to 
the  door,  there  she  stood  on  the  step,  in  her  hands  a 
great  platter  of  tempting  croquecignoles.  These 
I  bestowed  with  care  in  one  of  the  bags,  and  a  bottle 
of  eau  de  vie  for  my  uncle  in  the  other.  Then  I 
sprang  upon  the  back  of  Feu  Follet  and  gave  him 
the  word  to  be  off. 

It  was  well  on  to  noon  as  I  rode  out  through  the 
St.  John's  Gate  of  the  town  into  the  open  country. 
Behind  me  lay  the  crooked  line  of  the  city  wall, 
the  green  turf  and  poplars  of  the  Esplanade,  and 
the  gray  buildings  of  Quebec,  among  which  stood 
out  prominently  upon  Mountain  Hill  the  officers' 
quarters,  the  H6tel  Dieu,  and  the  Bishop's  new  col- 
lege with  its  shining  belfry. 

Before  me  extended  the  green  slopes  that  descend 
to  the  Beauport  Road;  beyond  them  I  could  see  the 
cleft  in  the  ledge  of  rock  whence  falls  the  fleecy 
cascade,  like  a  fair  bridal  veil  for  virgin  Nature,  and 
beyond  it  my  glance  travelled  to  Cap  Tourmente  and 
the  blue  mountains  of  Ste.  Anne. 

Having  crossed  the  winding  St.  Charles,  I  went  on 
contentedly.  The  beauty  of  the  scene  rendered  the 
jaunt  delightful ;  but  the  ground  was  bad  and  my 
progress  slow,  notwithstanding  that  Feu  Follet,  good 
beast,  chafed  for  a  gallop  and  broke  into  one  when- 
ever I  gave  him  the  rein.  At  length,  after  much  hard 
riding,  I  descried  in  the  valley  the  chimneys  of  my 
uncle's  home,  and  in  a  few  minutes  more  I  drew  up 
before  the  most  spacious  farmhouse  of  the  cdte,  or 
settlement. 

At  my  call  of  "  Ho  la,  ho !  "  there  were  hurried 
steps  within,  and  presently  the  door  was  thrown  open 


26      A   DAUGHTER   OF   NEW   FRANCE 

by  Robert  de  Reaume,  the  ward  of  Francois  Guyon, 
who  at  this  time  lived  with  him  at  Beauport. 

"Ah,  Normand,  it  is  indeed  you,  I  thought  I 
could  not  be  mistaken  in  the  voice,"  he  cried  joy- 
fully, hastening  to  catch  at  the  bridle  of  Feu  Follet 
that  I  might  dismount  the  sooner.  "  What  a  gala 
time  we  shall  have  together!  Your  uncle  Guyon 
has  brought  in  a  ship,  as  you  must  have  heard ;  we 
will  go  aboard  her  to-morrow.  Oh,  there  is  much  to 
show  you ! " 

At  his  exclamation  of  recognition  there  had  fol- 
lowed him  to  the  door  a  little  girl  of  some  nine 
or  ten  springtimes.  It  was  Barbe,  the  pretty  Eng- 
lish child. 

Hers  was  a  strange  history.  As  well  as  we  could 
learn  it,  her  father  was  slain  while  fighting  the  In- 
dians during  an  attack  upon  some  border  village,  his 
wife  ruthlessly  murdered  by  the  savages.  Doubt- 
less their  little  one  would  have  shared  the  same  fate, 
had  not  an  Indian  brave  taken  thought  that  he  might 
perchance  barter  the  toddling  pale-face  baby  for  a 
draught  of  French  brandy.  Of  him  my  aunt  had 
bought  her  to  save  her  life. 

But  of  all  this  winsome  Babette  retained  no  recol- 
lection beyond  an  instinctive  shrinking  from  any  face 
of  coppery  hue,  and  now,  as  she  stood  on  the  house- 
step,  clapping  her  hands  and  dancing  with  glee,  no 
one  would  have  supposed  that  over  the  dawn  of  her 
life  hung  so  terrible  a  tragedy. 

"  Oh,  welcome,  Normand,"  she  cried.  "  I  shall  be 
so  glad  to  show  you  where  the  violets  and  arbutus 
and  the  virgin's  bower  are  coming  into  bloom ;  and 
my  fairy  palace  lined  with  moss,  in  a  crevice  of  the 
cliff:  you  must  see,  too,  the  string  of  gold-beads  that 
father  Guyon  brought  home  to  me." 


THE   STRANGER   CHEVALIER          27 

I  sprang  from  the  saddle  and,  bending  down,  kissed 
the  sweet  mouth  which  little  Barbe  held  up  to  me 
in  ingenuous  affection ;  and  then,  as  she  clung  to 
me,  taking  another  dancing  step  or  two  the  while, 
I  turned  to  grasp  the  hand  of  Robert,  saying,  — 

"  In  truth  nothing  would  please  me  better  than  to 
remain  with  you  for  a  time ;  to  see  the  new  ship  and 
go  canoeing  on  the  river,  Robert ;  to  take  you  upon 
a  hunt  for  wild-flowers,  Barbe,  and  note  how  every 
day  your  golden  beads  gleam  prettier  upon  your 
pretty  throat.  But  unfortunately  I  cannot  stay.  I 
am  come  to  bring  Th^rese  home." 

"  Alack,  your  errand  is  like  to  temper  the  warmth 
of  your  reception  within,"  replied  Robert  with  a 
laugh,  whereby  he  strove  to  conceal  his  own  disap- 
pointment. "  Ther£se  has  been  the  life  of  the  house, 
and  Francois  Guyon  says  he  is  minded  to  keep 
her  always  as  his  daughter.  With  'la  bonne  mere' 
it  is  the  same,  since  your  sister  is  the  one  age  of  the 
daughter  whom  they  lost  by  death,  and  the  house 
is  lonely  without  the  younger  demoiselles,  who,  as 
you  know,  will  not  return  from  the  school  of  the 
Ursulines  for  some  weeks  yet." 

At  my  explanation  of  the  why  and  wherefore  of 
my  coming,  Babette  had  ceased  to  skip  ;  but  she 
still  hung  fast  to  my  hand  as  I  wheeled  about  to 
go  in. 

My  entrance  was  impeded,  however,  by  the  ap- 
pearance of  my  two  small  boy  cousins  who  came 
rushing  around  the  corner  of  the  building  from  the 
farmyard  and  cast  themselves  upon  me.  I  could 
only  free  myself  from  the  exuberance  of  their  greet- 
ing by  diverting  their  attention  to  Feu  Follet,  whom 
Robert  still  held  by  the  bridle.  At  this  juncture,  too, 
the  sagacious  animal,  as  if  to  urge  his  own  claim  to 


28      A   DAUGHTER   OF   NEW    FRANCE 

their  notice,  began  to  whinny  for  the  rest  and  pleas- 
ant shelter  of  the  stable. 

The  lads  broke  into  a  merry  laugh  at  his  wisdom, 
snatched  the  rein  from  Robert,  and  led  the  horse 
away  with  a  chanson  of  triumph,  as  if  it  had  been 
the  charger  of  his  Majesty,  while  I  went  into  the 
house  with  Reaume  and  Barbe. 

"Hein,  Normand,  'tis  good  for  the  eyes  to  see 
you,"  cried  my  uncle  Guyon  from  his  chair  by  the 
fire,  as  he  took  his  pipe  from  his  mouth  and  held 
out  a  hand  to  me  in  his  bluff  hearty  way.  "  Come, 
sit  down  and  recount  to  us  the  doings  of  Quebec. 
Ma  mie "  (to  his  wife),  "  have  you  ordered  dinner 
for  the  lad?  What  a  likely  gallant  he  is  become, 
to  be  sure  !  " 

"  Ay,  such  as  I  always  said  he  would  be !  "  de- 
clared my  aunt,  who  had  risen  from  her  place  to 
greet  me  and  was  bustling  about  with  hospitable 
thought  for  my  refreshment,  the  family  having  al- 
ready dined. 

As  a  matter  of  fact,  I  was  not  in  general  ill-pleased 
with  my  own  appearance.  Although  I  was  but  a 
youth  and  little  used  to  the  ways  of  the  high  society 
of  our  good  town,  my  habiliments  had  always  been 
of  the  best,  for  it  was  a  pride  with  my  father  that  the 
habiting  of  his  family  should  be  an  evidence  of  his 
prosperity.  I  knew  also  that  I  was  well  built  of 
frame,  and  tall  for  one  of  French  stock,  with  olive 
skin,  brown  eyes,  and  a  shock  of  wavy  black  hair 
which  I  had  been  thinking,  as  I  rode  along  the  way, 
I  would  begin  to  wear  powdered  and  tied  in  a  queue. 

Now,  beyond  a  momentary  consciousness  of  satis- 
faction at  the  impression  I  had  made,  I  gave  no  con- 
sideration to  myself  at  all,  but  stood  in  the  middle 
of  the  floor  as  though  rooted  to  the  spot,  so  over- 


THE   STRANGER   CHEVALIER          29 

whelmed  was  I  with  astonishment  by  the  scene  upon 
which  I  gazed. 

At  first,  upon  coming  in  with  my  thoughts  intent 
on  the  meeting  with  my  uncle  and  aunt,  I  saw  only 
them.  But  directly,  as  I  turned  about  to  look 
for  The>ese,  lo,  there  she  was,  busied  with  her 
embroidery  at  the  other  side  of  the  fireplace,  and, 
wonder  of  wonders !  there,  bending  over  her,  was 
the  self-same  chevalier  whose  imprisonment  I  had 
lamented  for  the  past  week,  —  the  stranger  of  the 
wine-shop,  looking  as  dashing  and  picturesque,  and 
handsomer  even  than  when  I  had  first  seen  him,  for 
now  his  brow  was  unclouded  and  his  eyes  shone  with 
a  soft  steady  light, — the  hero  of  my  nightly  visions 
and  of  my  waking  dreams,  the  mysterious  Monsieur 
de  la  Mothe. 

"  How  now,  Normand  !  "  exclaimed  my  uncle  Fran- 
c.ois,  at  a  loss  to  account  for  my  bewilderment.  "  Ah, 
I  was  like  to  forget,  —  you  are  a  stranger  to  our 
guest.  Sieur  Cadillac,  this  is  my  brother's  son,  a 
worthy  lad,  maugre,  not  good  enough,  it  seems, 
to  make  a  missionary." 

Thus  I  discovered  that  the  intelligence  of  my 
dismissal  from  the  Recollets  had  preceded  me 
hither, — so  swiftly  does  ill  news  travel. 

Discomfited  and  ashamed  at  his  blurting  it  out 
in  this  manner,  I  shifted  my  cap  from  one  hand  to 
the  other,  wishing  that,  to  hide  my  confusion,  the 
floor  might  turn  to  a  billowy  sea  and,  opening, 
engulf  me. 

But  he  to  whom  Francois  Guyon  had  given  the 
title  of  Sieur  Cadillac,  he, — the  stranger  whom  I 
knew  as  the  Chevalier  de  la  Mothe,  —  with  that 
strange  power  of  attraction  which  was  peculiar  to 
him,  forced  me  to  meet  the  look  he  fixed  upon  me. 


3o     A   DAUGHTER   OF   NEW    FRANCE 

Then  straightway  his  countenance  broke  into  a 
smile  so  winning  that  in  my  ardent,  foolish  boy's 
heart  I  felt  as  though  I  could  fall  down  and  wor- 
ship him. 

As  it  was,  I  only  stammered  out  some  incoherent 
reply  as,  striding  forward,  he  grasped  my  hand, 
crying,  — 

"  Pardon,  friend  Guyon,  I  must  gainsay  you.  The 
young  gentleman  and  I  have  not  only  met  ere  now, 
but  I  am  in  debt  to  him  for  a  most  timely  service. 
This  gallant  nephew  of  yours  is  the  youth  who  so 
opportunely  interposed  the  other  evening,  with  the 
amiable  purpose  of  saving  my  life  or  that  of  the 
imbecile  Sabrevois,  I  scarce  know  which." 

"  Of  a  surety  not  Sabrevois !  "  I  rejoined  so 
vehemently  that  they  all  laughed ;  whereupon,  more 
at  ease,  I  shot  a  glance  toward  Therese,  and  as  my 
eyes  met  hers  I  read  there  a  pride  in  me  that  they 
had  never  shown  me  before. 

"Eh!  Is  it  indeed  so?"  ejaculated  my  uncle, 
incredulous,  yet  well  pleased  to  be  assured  that  I 
had  so  distinguished  myself;  while  my  aunt  paused 
in  her  kindly  preparations  for  my  entertainment  to 
stare  at  me  in  undisguised  amazement. 

Manifestly  they  were  familiar  with  the  story  of 
what  had  transpired  on  that  notable  evening  at  the 
wine-shop  of  the  Widow  St.  Armand. 

"  And  now,  my  faithful  and  most  unlooked  for 
ally,"  continued  my  chevalier,  in  a  bantering  tone 
under  which  nevertheless  I  discerned  a  ring  of 
earnestness,  "  do  you  wonder  how  it  is  that,  in- 
stead of  languishing  in  your  Bastile  of  New  France, 
the  donjon  of  yonder  grim  Castle  of  St.  Louis, 
as  you  perchance  supposed  me,  I  am  here,  a 
guest  at  Frangois  Guyon's  hospitable  fireside,  and 


THE   STRANGER   CHEVALIER          31 

occupied  after  a  fashion  so  eminently  agreeable  to 
my  inclinations?  " 

He  bowed  to  my  sister  with  a  courtliness  and 
grace  which  I  have  never  seen  surpassed,  and  turning 
again  to  me,  proceeded  with  his  former  debonair 
gayety,— 

44  Bah,  my  Normand,  you  have  yet  to  learn  that 
a  cask  of  Spanish  sack  is  often  a  most  eloquent 
advocate  with  the  powers  that  be.  As  for  my  pres- 
ence here,  your  good  uncle  Guyon  can  tell  you, 
we  have  braved  the  perils  of  the  deep  together  with 
the  laudable  object  of  upholding  the  majesty  of  the 
King  upon  the  high  seas,  and,  at  the  same  time, 
furthering  our  own  fortunes.  This  voyage,  I  am 
come  from  my  home  in  fair  Acadia,  drawn  hither 
by  tidings  of  a  treasure  compared  to  which  all  the 
wealth  that  sails  the  ocean  is  as  nothing;  and,  in 
sooth,  the  report,  alluring  as  it  was,  fell  far  short  of 
the  reality." 

Again  his  gaze  sought  The"rese,  who  blushed  rosy 
red,  and  bowed  her  head  lower  over  her  tambour 
frame. 

For  the  nonce  anger  got  the  better  of  my  admira- 
tion of  the  man.  Who  was  this  stranger  that  upon 
a  few  days'  acquaintance  ventured  to  pay  such  bold 
court  to  the  prettiest  demoiselle  of  Quebec? 

Did  he  only  trifle?  Was  this  but  a  jest  of  love- 
making?  If  so  —  My  hand  sought  the  rapier  I  had 
worn,  with  a  longing  to  find  it  of  use,  since  the  day 
following  that  whereon  it  was  decided  I  had  no 
calling  for  the  r61e  of  messenger  of  peace. 

The  Chevalier  de  la  Mothe  noted  the  action  and 
also  the  frown  upon  my  brow,  but  he  returned  my 
look  of  defiant  interrogation  with  one  so  frank  and 
noble  that  I  felt  my  boyish  fierceness  soften. 


32     A   DAUGHTER   OF   NEW   FRANCE 

"  Ah,  Normand,  you  are  a  brave  gallant,"  he  said, 
with  the  easy  indulgent  laugh  of  one  who  is  master 
of  the  situation,  "  but  I  trust  our  swords  may  never 
be  turned  against  each  other.  At  least,  if  it  ever 
comes  to  pass,  I  swear  'twill  not  be  through  fault 
of  mine." 

Thereupon  he  turned  away,  as  though  to  resume 
with  the  fair  worker  beside  the  hearth  the  conversa- 
tion that  my  entrance  had  interrupted. 

"  Therese,  I  am  come  for  you,"  I  interposed  gruffly, 
not  yet  entirely  appeased. 

Therese,  who  had  smiled  a  greeting  to  me  when  I 
came  in,  now  started  up,  coloring  with  vexation  and 
annoyance. 

I  knew  at  once  that  I  had  blundered,  yet  what  was 
I  to  do  but  deliver  the  message  wherewith  I  had  been 
commissioned? 

"  It  is  my  father's  wish  that  you  return  with  me," 
I  snapped  out  brusquely. 

"  Then  I  had  best  go  at  once,"  she  replied  with 
dignity,  making  as  if  to  set  about  immediate  prepara- 
tions to  obey  the  behest. 

My  uncle  Guyon  protested.  "  What  betise  is 
this  ? "  cried  he.  "  The  command  of  my  brother 
Denys  meant  no  such  haste.  Normand  was  delayed 
on  the  way  by  reason  of  the  bad  state  of  the  roads ; 
you  cannot  get  back  by  nightfall.  To-morrow,  my 
dear  niece,  if  so  it  must  be,  you  have  my  permission 
to  go,  but  not  before." 

"Ay,  that  is  it,"  seconded  my  aunt;  while  little 
Barbe  laid  her  soft  cheek  against  my  hand,  well  con- 
tent that  they  should  carry  the  day.  But  The"rese, 
turned  contrary,  would  not  have  it  so. 

"  Oh,  I  beg  of  you,  my  uncle,  let  me  go  now,  since 
I  am  sent  for,"  she  pleaded.  "  My  father  will  not 


THE   STRANGER   CHEVALIER          33 

take  the  excuse  of  the  bad  roads,  since  the  twilight 
is  long;  if  we  start  betimes,  we  shall  get  home  by 
seven  of  the  clock." 

"  Well,  well,  I  dare  say  you  are  wise  not  to  anger 
my  brother,"  said  Francois  Guyon,  yielding,  "  and  I 
know  you  will  be  coming  again  to  Beauport  very 
shortly." 

At  this  she  blushed  again;  as  for  Monsieur  de  la 
Mothe,  he  said  no  more  to  me,  but  stood  studying 
the  fire.  Betimes,  after  telling  my  sister  in  a  low 
voice  that  he  would  return  to  put  her  on  her  pillion 
(a  most  absurd  care,  to  my  mind),  he  called  to  Robert 
and  set  out  with  him  for  the  ship  at  the  wharf, 
whereon,  I  learned,  he  lived  when  at  Beauport. 

Angry  as  I  was  against  this  Chevalier  de  la 
Mothe,  when  I  saw  Reaume  go  forth  with  him  thus 
as  his  chosen  companion,  I  was  conscious  of  a  pang 
of  jealousy  almost  such,  I  fear,  as  a  girl  feels  when 
she  sees  the  lover  whom  she  has  enthroned  in  her 
heart  prefer  the  society  of  another.  But  this  emo- 
tion I  checked,  albeit  it  caused  me  to  apply  myself 
with  the  greater  sullenness  to  the  meal  which  the 
Pani  woman  servant  had  set  forth  for  me  on  the 
table  at  the  farther  end  of  the  room. 

Francois  Guyon  having  been  called  away  to  his 
fields  without  hearing  the  minor  bits  of  town  news  I 
possessed,  and  for  which  he  had  kindly  feigned  to  be 
so  anxious,  and  Therese  having  disappeared,  taking 
Barbe  with  her  on  the  plea  that  she  needed  the 
child's  help  in  making  into  a  bundle  her  best  gown 
and  ribands,  preparatory  to  departure,  my  aunt  and 
I  were  left  alone. 

As  though  unconscious  of  my  moodiness,  the  dear 
soul  chatted  to  me  in  her  pleasant  fashion,  and  ere- 
long grew  confidential. 

3 


34     A   DAUGHTER   OF   NEW   FRANCE 

"  Ay,  Normand,  I  am  glad  you  are  come,  even 
for  this  brief  stay,"  she  said.  "  It  is  some  time  since 
we  have  seen  you,  by  reason  I  dare  say  of  your  being 
so  taken  up  with  your  books.  Henceforth  I  hope 
you  will  come  to  us  oftener.  Your  uncle  has  found 
great  good  fortune  upon  the  seas  and  along  the 
southern  coast  of  late;  and,  by  no  means  the  least 
of  these  fortunate  happenings,  in  his  opinion,  was  the 
meeting  with  yonder  cavalier. 

"  What  an  odd  chance  that  you  should  already  know 
him ;  yet  it  is  not  over-strange  either,  since  so  dash- 
ing a  man  must  have  made  an  impression  in  Quebec, 
and  then,  of  course,  there  was  that  fracas  with  Sabre- 
vois,  albeit  the  vain  lieutenant  is  an  experienced 
swordsman,  and  they  should  have  been  permitted  to 
fight,  I  maintain. 

"  My  faith,  but  your  uncle  esteems  greatly  this 
La  Mothe.  A  man  of  brilliant  parts,  he  says,  is  the 
young  Seigneur  de  Cadillac;  ambitious,  yet  noble- 
minded  ;  fated  to  make  a  name  for  himself  and  those 
connected  with  him, —  one  born  to  achieve  place  and 
power.  He  holds  commissions,  both  military  and 
marine,  from  the  King;  a  soldier  of  fortune  now,  to 
be  sure,  but,  my  dear,  he  looks  to  receive  a  rich  grant 
of  land  in  the  vicinity  of  Acadia,  in  acknowledgment 
of  his  services  to  the  government,  —  and,  like  the 
eagle,  he  is  bound  to  soar  high. 

"  Well,  Normand,  it  pleases  me  that  you  have  dis- 
covered how  matters  stand.  You  have  seen  and 
heard  for  yourself  how  he  regards  Therese,  and  have 
noted,  if  I  mistake  not,  how  the  roses  bloom  in  her 
cheeks  if  he  but  turns  his  eyes  upon  her?" 

"  Yes,  and  anon,  I  suppose,  he  will  sail  away  with 
my  uncle  and  leave  her  distraught  and  unhappy,"  I 
mumbled  fiercely. 


THE   STRANGER   CHEVALIER          35 

"  Hein,  not  so !  "  corrected  "  la  bonne  mere," 
laughing  at  my  spleen.  "  He  is  minded  to  wed  her 
as  soon  as  may  be,  and  take  her  with  him  when  he 
sails;  while  she,  in  truth,  awaits  the  ringing  of  her 
marriage  bells  with  much  joy  and  content." 

"  But  my  father  and  mother?  " 

"  They  have  to-day  agreed  to  the  marriage.  The 
affair  with  Sabrevois  troubled  them  much,  especially 
as  the  latter  was  known  to  be  a  suitor  for  the  hand  of 
Therese.  Had  the  accident  been  serious,  the  scandal 
of  it  would,  I  fear,  have  been  fatal  to  Cadillac's  hope 
of  winning  their  consent  to  accept  him  as  their  son- 
in-law.  But  since  the  coxcomb  has  received  only  a 
broken  head,  that  counts  for  nothing,  and  Therese 
will  soon  be  a  happy  bride,  God  willing.  Your 
parents  demurred  at  the  haste,  indeed,  but  Cadillac's 
ardor,  and  the  necessity  that  Guyon  and  he  set  sail 
again  at  an  early  date,  have  prevailed." 

Here  was  news  truly.  So  it  was  all  arranged,  and 
until  now  I  had  been  told  nothing  of  what  was 
going  on !  Bitter  enough  I  felt,  as  I  sat  looking 
down  at  my  plate. 

But  presently,  glancing  up,  I  saw  again  beside  the 
hearth  Therese,  whom  I  so  dearly  loved,  —  Therese, 
who  stood  motionless,  her  eyes  fixed  upon  me  with 
a  half-deprecating,  half-wistful  expression  of  sisterly 
tenderness  and  regret  at  my  chagrin.  Thereat,  un- 
able to  withstand  their  mute  appeal,  I  rose,  shook  off 
my  selfish  moroseness,  strode  across  the  room,  and, 
taking  in  mine  her  kind  hands  that  had  ever  been 
as  ready  as  was  her  heart  to  lend  me  help  and  com- 
fort, I  bent  my  head  and  kissed  them,  saying,  — 

"  Therese,  no  man's  devotion,  however  exalted,  is 
great  enough  to  be  worthy  of  you.  But  if  you  have 
given  your  love  to  this  chevalier  of  whom  all  speak 


36      A   DAUGHTER   OF   NEW   FRANCE 

so  well,  if  you  will  to  wed  him,  then  may  you  pos- 
sess the  homage  of  his  life,  and  all  good  fortune  and 
happiness." 

At  this  she  made  as  if  to  protest  my  praise  of  her 
sweet  self. 

"  Foolish  boy,"  she  said  caressingly,  as  for  a  mo- 
ment she  leaned  her  head  against  my  breast.  "  I 
wished  for  an  opportunity  to  tell  you,  Normand; 
and  —  and  —  you  see  for  yourself  no  one  could  help 
liking  him." 


CHAPTER  FOURTH 
OUR  SIEUR'S  ACADIAN  HOME 

A  FEW  weeks  later,  on  the  25th  of  June,  1687, 
Therese  was  married  to  Antoine  de  la  Mothe 
Launay,  Sieur  de  Cadillac.  The  ceremony  was  per- 
formed before  the  high  altar  of  the  cathedral,  by  the 
cure",  Pere  Dupre",  and  the  nuptials  were  long  recalled 
as  of  the  grandest  of  the  time. 

Old  Quebec  has  seldom  seen  a  fairer  bride  than 
was  this  sweet  sister  of  mine.  My  father  gave,  in  her 
honor  and  in  compliment  to  her  gallant  bridegroom, 
a  wedding  banquet,  which  was  attended  by  Governor 
Denonville,  the  noble  Bishop  Laval,  the  Intendant, 
and  all  the  distinguished  society  of  the  town.  After 
the  feast  there  were  toasts  and  pleasantries  apparently 
without  end ;  and  among  the  guests,  and  foremost  in 
the  dance,  was  the  whilom  lover  of  Therese,  —  Sabre- 
vois,  in  the  blithest  of  humors,  and  more  agreeable 
because  less  consequential  than  hitherto.  In  faith, 
I  opine  there  is  many  a  man  who  would  thus  be  the 
better  for  a  broken  head. 

Blue  as  were  the  skies,  and  prodigal  the  sunshine 
of  that  happy  day  and  the  week  following,  during 
which  the  festivities  were  kept  up,  both  at  our  house 
in  the  town  and  at  Beauport,  yet  ever  drew  nearer 
the  hour  when  our  dear  girl  was  to  set  sail  with  her 
husband  for  his  far-away  home  in  Acadia. 


38     A   DAUGHTER   OF   NEW   FRANCE 

My  mother,  to  whom  Therese  was  as  a  right  hand, 
kept  up  bravely  and  tried  to  see  the  romance  of  her 
youth  renewed  in  the  marriage  of  her  daughter;  my 
father  would  have  no  word  spoken  of  the  coming 
parting.  As  for  myself,  although  I  danced  with  the 
maid  of  honor  and  every  pretty  demoiselle  of  the 
company,  and  bandied  merry  speeches  with  all,  there 
were  moments  when  the  spectres  of  the  adieux  to  be 
said  spoiled  all  the  mirth  for  me. 

Not  only  would  I  miss  Therese,  the  confidant  of 
my  boyish  peccadillos  and  a  most  sage  adviser,  but, 
now  that  my  momentary  distrust  of  La  Mothe  was 
proved  unjust,  it  seemed  to  me  that  with  his  going 
the  star  of  my  horizon  would  set,  leaving  me  in  dark- 
ness and  discontent. 

"  There  will  be  for  me  not  even  the  resource  of 
escaping  from  life's  prosiness  to  the  Recollet  book- 
room  with  its  scanty  treasures,"  I  muttered  to  myself 
one  morning.  "Since  my  father  has  made  me  his 
clerk,  my  days  henceforth  must  be  spent  in  the  office 
of  his  great  warehouse  at  the  foot  of  the  Sault  au 
Matelot.  Ah,  if  I  could  but  sail  away  with  my 
hero  !  Why,  I  will  go  with  him,"  I  cried  with  sudden 
resolve,  and  sought  him  out  forthwith. 

Cadillac  stood  on  the  deck  of  his  ship  at  Beauport, 
watching  his  men  as  they  stowed  the  cargo  of  vari- 
ous stores  not  procurable  at  Port  Royal. 

"Mon  chevalier,  take  me  with  you,"  I  called  to 
him.  "  Never  can  I  abide  the  dulness  of  this  place 
when  you  are  gone !  " 

At  my  impulsive  words  he  wheeled  about  in  his 
alert  way,  gave  me  a  searching  glance,  and  laying 
a  hand  upon  my  shoulder,  said  with  his  captivating 
smile,— 

"Te,  lad;    dazzled  by  the   glamour  of  an   adven- 


OUR   SIEUR'S   ACADIAN    HOME         39 

turous  life,  you  wot  nothing  of  its  realities.  The 
uncertainties,  the  perils  through  storms  and  the  cas- 
ualties of  the  seas ;  the  rigors  of  a  climate  as  inhos- 
pitable as  a  Canadian  winter  joined  with  the  privations 
and  dangers  of  a  still  wilder  land;  at  times  actual 
poverty,  —  even  hunger  and  cold." 

"  Surely  I  were  a  weakling  not  to  be  able  to  dare 
hardships  wherefrom  Therese,  a  mere  girl,  does  not 
flinch,"  I  protested  hotly. 

He  looked  amused,  and  shook  his  head,  as  one  not 
yet  recovered  from  the  half-awed  surprise  of  a  dawn- 
ing revelation  of  a  true  woman's  heart ;  as  I  remem- 
bered long  afterwards. 

"  Ah,  Normand,"  he  said  gently,  "  the  love  of  a 
devoted  wife  braves  with  loyal  steadfastness  priva- 
tions from  which  the  strongest  hero  might  well 
shrink.  In  sooth,  I  doubt  if  I  did  right  to  link  the 
fate  of  your  sweet  sister  with  my  own ;  whether  in- 
deed it  might  not  have  been  better  to  have  sailed 
away  with  my  love  unspoken,  after  all.  However, 
the  bond  is  made.  For  myself,  I  am  richly  content, 
and  few  her,  —  well,  I  will  do  my  best  to  shield  and 
make  her  happy.  But  you,  —  why  should  you  cast 
away  a  tranquil  existence,  and  the  chance  of  acquir- 
ing honor  and  fortune  in  the  King's  strong  town  of 
Quebec,  for  the  whim  of  following  the  hazards  of 
a  daredevil  soldier  of  fortune?  Your  uncle  Guyon 
follows  the  sea;  but  he  is  not  so  rich,  nor  has  he 
so  enviable  a  social  position  as  your  father,  who  re- 
mains quietly  at  home,  giving  his  time  to  business 
and  the  best  interests  of  his  family." 

"  Mine  is  no  whim,"  I  persisted  with  indignation. 

"  Hein,  beaufrere,  I  question  neither  your  endur- 
ance nor  your  valor,"  laughed  he.  "  I  did  but  wish  to 
warn  you  that  the  life  you  would  fain  take  up  is  by 


40      A   DAUGHTER   OF   NEW   FRANCE 

no  means  plain  sailing,  nor  yet  a  matter  of  courting 
a  fair  demoiselle  and  winning  a  bride.  It  may  per- 
chance hold  great  prizes,  but  the  interval  between  is 
one  of  discouragement  and  struggle." 

"  For  that  I  care  not,"  I  broke  out.  "  I  am  young 
and  strong ;  and  is  it  not  the  struggle  that  makes  life 
worth  the  living?" 

And  as  he  turned  and  walked  with  me  to  the  stern 
of  the  vessel,  I  went  on,  — 

"  Oh,  if  you  but  knew  what  fine  castles  in  Spain  I 
was  wont  to  build  when  I  was  supposed  to  be  at 
work  in  the  peaceful  book-room  of  the  Recollets." 

When  I  paused  to  take  breath,  my  dear  Sieur  said 
with  a  nod  of  the  head,  — 

"  Well,  well,  a  colt  is  good  for  nothing  if  it  does 
not  break  its  halter.  Or  rather,  Normand,  you  are 
like  a  good  sword  of  finely  tempered  steel  that  should 
not  be  left  to  rust  in  the  scabbard.  If  you  wish  to 
go,  come  then.  And  should  I  attain  the  brilliant 
destiny  the  soothsayers  predict  and  my  ambition  tells 
me  I  have  power  to  achieve,  you  shall  have  a  brother's 
share  in  my  success." 

Extravagantly  happy,  I  clasped  his  hand.  In  my 
joy  I  could  have  fallen  upon  his  neck  with  a  grateful 
embrace,  or  upon  bended  knee  sworn  fealty  to  him 
as  a  landholder  pays  homage  to  his  lord  ;  but  I  felt 
intuitively  that,  whatever  tribute  he  might  require 
from  other  men,  from  me  he  liked  better  this  simple 
hand  clasp.  He  had  named  me  brother,  and  by  so 
doing  had  bound  me  to  his  interests  forever. 

Thus  it  came  about  that  I  sailed  away  with  the 
dashing  Sieur  de  la  Mothe  to  his  Acadian  home, 
as  his  clerk,  but  with  the  promise  of  having  part 
at  times  in  his  voyages  and  expeditions.  And  in 
being  thus  selected  I  was  given  a  preference  over 


OUR   SIEUR'S   ACADIAN    HOME         41 

my  cousin  Robert  de  Reaume,  who  much  desired 
to  go. 

But  at  my  departure  little  Barbe  wept  nearly  all 
the  brightness  of  her  pretty  eyes  away,  nor  would 
she  be  comforted,  even  when  I  promised  to  bring 
her,  when  I  came  home  again,  a  chain  of  gold  set 
with  rubies,  like  to  the  one  the  handsome  bridegroom 
had  bestowed  upon  my  sister  as  a  wedding  gift. 

The  occupation  of  privateering  in  which  Sieur 
Cadillac  and  my  uncle  Guyon  were  engaged  was 
esteemed  in  those  days  a  lawful  one.  The  French 
buccaneer  considered  himself  in  the  King's  employ, 
and,  while  his  pay  depended  upon  the  fortune  he  met 
on  the  ocean,  he  received  the  protection  of  his  own 
government.  He  was  expected  to  take,  pillage,  or 
destroy  as  many  good  English  or  Spanish  vessels  as 
crossed  his  course  ;  but  he  was  supposed  to  leave  the 
sailing-craft  of  his  countrymen  alone,  or  give  them 
assistance  as  to  friends  in  distress.  It  is  true,  many 
of  those  engaged  in  this  daring  warfare  on  the  high 
seas  were  pirates  who  hoisted  the  black  flag  and  slew 
all  who  fell  into  their  hands  with  barbarous  cruelty ; 
but  my  uncle  and  La  Mothe  were  by  no  means  men 
of  this  stamp.  They  were  well  regarded  by  every 
one  for  their  good  service  in  his  Majesty's  for- 
eign wars,  and  as  a  recognition  of  this  service  the 
Sieur  de  Cadillac,  during  the  summer  that  followed 
his  marriage,  received  from  Governor  Denonville  and 
the  Intendant  de  Champigny  a  grant  of  the  Island  of 
Mont  Desert,  and  of  Donaquec,  a  large  tract  of  land 
on  the  coast  of  our  province  of  Maine,  which  lies  to 
the  southeast  of  Quebec  and  between  it  and  Acadia, 
as  a  glance  at  the  chart  will  show. 

In  the  spring  we  went  down  from  Port  Royal  to 
the  island  for  a  few  months,  and  the  next  year  we 


42      A   DAUGHTER   OF   NEW   FRANCE 

did  so  again;  for,  the  King  having  confirmed  the 
grant,  Cadillac  determined  to  use  the  dowry  Therese 
had  brought  him  to  improve  this  seigneury. 

Already  my  brother-in-law  was  looked  upon  as  a 
man  of  importance.  Well  too  had  he  kept  his  prom- 
ise to  me  that  I  should  have  a  share  in  his  adventures 
and  exploits.  I  had  sailed  with  him  upon  several 
voyages,  visiting  New  England,  and  going  southward, 
even  to  the  shores  of  Virginia.  The  bays  and  rivers, 
as  also  the  settlements  of  the  Atlantic  seaboard  from 
the  Gulf  of  St.  Lawrence  to  the  Bay  of  Chesapeake, 
were  as  familiar  to  him  as  were  the  banks  of  the  little 
river  St.  Charles  and  the  streams  about  Beauport  to 
me,  in  the  days  of  my  boyhood. 

At  Mont  Desert  we  were  kept  from  ennui  by  the 
menaces  of  one  Andros,  the  English  Governor  who 
claimed  the  province.  It  was  the  same  Andros  who 
later  demanded  from  the  settlers  of  Connecticut  the 
surrender  of  their  charter,  which  forthwith  disap- 
peared as  though  plucked  away  by  the  hand  of 
Liberty  herself. 

Years  after,  there  came  to  me,  as  upon  the  wind,  a 
rumor  that  this  document  had  been  concealed  by 
some  stanch  rebel  in  the  hollow  of  a  tree.  If  so,  all 
honor  to  him  for  the  deed.  As  for  our  Sieur,  he 
laughed  to  scorn  the  claims  of  the  pompous  Gov- 
ernor, and  leaving  Mont  Desert  to  be  defended  by 
our  Indian  allies,  returned  with  his  household  to  Port 
Royal  after  the  festival  of  the  Harvest. 

No  sooner  were  we  at  home  than  there  were  begun 
preparations  for  the  reception  of  some  unknown 
visitor.  The  manor  was  hung  with  garlands;  the 
orchards  and  our  fertile  farms  were  laid  under  gener- 
ous contribution;  fat  beeves  were  killed.  Therese 
brought  out  the  finest  of  the  store  of  table  damask 


OUR   SIEUR'S   ACADIAN    HOME        43 

that  formed  part  of  her  bridal  outfit,  burnished  the 
silver  plate,  and  still  further  busied  herself  in  direct- 
ing the  best  cooks  of  the  settlement,  who  had  been 
pressed  into  service. 

One  evening  with  our  Sieur  I  paced  the  gallery  of 
the  house.  Around  about  it  lay  the  golden  fields, 
and  beyond  them  rose  the  dark  forests  of  pine  and 
hemlock.  Before  us  the  waters  of  the  harbor  reflected 
the  sunset  clouds,  and  danced  in  white  waves  along 
the  shore,  —  sporting  white  waves  that  somehow 
made  me  think  of  the  pretty  feet  of  little  Barbe,  as 
once,  of  a  summer's  day,  I  saw  her  tripping  unshod 
upon  the  sands  of  Beauport.  And  ever  after  it 
seemed  to  me  that  shoes  were  all  too  heavy  for  her 
dainty  grace,  although  my  uncle  was  wont  to  bring 
her  shapely  footwear,  upon  his  return  from  his  voy- 
ages,—  Spanish  slippers  and  the  like. 

But  to  resume  my  story.  Taking  my  arm  with 
the  courtly  dignity  natural  to  him,  Cadillac  said : 
"  Normand,  there  are  great  doings  at  hand.  I  am 
shortly  to  entertain  the  Sieur  Meneval." 

I  shrugged  a  shoulder,  for  the  Governor  of  Acadia 
had  more  than  once  been  hospitably  welcomed  at  our 
house  without  this  ado. 

My  brother  gave  a  good-humored  laugh  over  my 
incredulity. 

"  Hein  !  You  have  not  heard  all,"  he  proceeded. 
"  With  the  Sieur  Meneval  is  to  come  a  stranger  of 
wide  repute,  an  Admiral  but  lately  out  from  France." 

"  Ah,"  I  ejaculated,  comprehending  the  gravity  of 
the  intelligence. 

"  My  expected  guest  is  the  Sieur  de  la  Caffiniere," 
he  pursued,  sweeping  the  air  with  his  right  hand,  as 
though  it  held  a  sabre  and  he  was  cleaving  his  way 
to  glory.  "  He  wishes  me  to  sail  away  with  him,  no 


44      A    DAUGHTER   OF   NEW   FRANCE 

matter  where,  — in  the  service  of  the  King.  My 
knowledge  of  the  North  Atlantic  and  the  shores 
bordering  thereon,  is  recognized  by  the  ministers 
of  his  Majesty,  and  I  am  selected  for  an  important 
task." 

As  I  listened,  my  ardent  young  blood  glowed  in 
my  veins  and  rushed  to  my  face  in  a  crimson  flush, 
while  my  heart  throbbed  exultantly  at  the  hope  of 
having  a  part,  even  if  a  humble  one,  in  this  new 
cruise. 

Reading  my  thoughts,  La  Mothe  sighed. 

"  You  would  fain  go  with  me,  Normand,"  he  said 
hesitatingly.  "  And  so  it  may  be,  provided  the  Sieur 
de  la  Caffiniere  consents.  There  is  a  service  as  oner- 
ous, if  less  dashing,  I  thought  to  ask  of  you  ;  but  —  " 

"What  is  it  you  would  have  me  do?"  I  stam- 
mered with  emotion. 

"  My  one  anxiety  is  for  my  wife,"  returned  Cadillac, 
moodily.  "  I  am  loath  to  leave  Therese  here  alone, 
yet  at  present  I  have  no  way  of  sending  her  back  to 
Quebec.  My  absence  will  be  short,  I  trust;  if  I  am 
delayed,  Francois  Guyon  will  be  here  in  the  spring, 
and  she  can  return  with  him  to  visit  her  people.  I 
might,  indeed,  at  the  expense  of  some  degree  of  my 
state,  send  my  wife  and  our  infant  child  to  stay  with 
the  Lady  de  Meneval,  but  in  that  event  this  house- 
hold would  be  broken  up." 

Plainly  enough  I  saw  wherein  lay  my  duty. 

"  Say  no  more,  mon  chevalier,"  I  interrupted  in  a 
voice  that  trembled  somewhat,  half  from  the  bitter- 
ness of  the  disappointment  I  strove  to  conceal,  half 
through  the  earnestness  of  my  new  resolve.  "  I  will 
remain  here,  since  it  is  your  wish." 

He  thanked  me  warmly  and  after  a  pause  con- 
tinued, — 


OUR   SIEUR'S   ACADIAN   HOME         45 

"  To  you,  Normand,  jointly  with  Therese,  I  com- 
mit my  lands,  and  whatever  of  bullion,  specie,  or 
jewels  have  come  to  me  as  spoils  of  Spanish  galleons 
or  English  merchantmen,  and  are  still  in  my  posses- 
sion. Above  all,  to  your  protection  I  confide  the 
treasures  beside  which  all  else  is  dross,  my  precious 
Therese  and  my  little  daughter  Madeleine." 

"  Am  I  not  bound  by  the  ties  of  nature  to  shield 
my  sister  and  her  child  from  all  peril,  even  with  my 
life?"  I  answered.  "Be  content,  I  now  solemnly 
pledge  myself  so  to  do.  With  your  Acadian  men- 
servants,  farm-laborers,  and  Indians,  and  myself  to 
defend  them,  Therese  and  the  little  one  will  be  as 
safe  here  as  if  under  my  father's  roof  in  that  secure 
town  founded  by  the  wise  Champlain  on  the  rocky 
promontory  of  the  St.  Lawrence." 

My  brother  pressed  my  hand  and  said  once  more, 
as  on  the  day  I  had  prayed  to  follow  his  fortunes,  — 

"Normand,  you  are  a  good  lad,  and  as  brave  as  true. 
I  thought  you  would  respond  as  you  have  done,  but 
when  the  spirit  is  troubled  one  craves  a  word  of 
loyalty  from  a  friend." 

At  this  commendation  my  heart  grew  light  again. 
Our  Sieur  had  honored  me  with  his  confidence,  and 
my  youthful  vanity  was  well  pleased  that  my  sister 
would  look  to  me  to  manage  for  her  the  considerable 
estates  of  La  Mothe. 

As  for  the  feast  in  honor  of  the  Sieur  de  la  Caffi- 
ni£re,  it  was  prepared  for  naught.  A  storm  arose, 
and  when  the  skies  cleared,  a  wind  so  swept  the  sea 
that  when  the  Admiral's  ship,  the  Embuscade,  was 
sighted,  the  impossibility  of  his  effecting  a  landing 
was  soon  apparent.  Cadillac  went  out  to  him  in  a 
canoe  which  every  moment  seemed  about  to  become 
the  prey  of  the  waves.  But  the  Indians  who  guided  it 


46      A   DAUGHTER    OF   NEW   FRANCE 

were  themselves  like  children  of  the  deep  and  took  a 
savage  pleasure  in  the  danger. 

The  ship  sailed  away,  and  after  many  weary  weeks 
came  a  packet  from  our  Sieur  to  Governor  Meneval 
with  an  enclosure  for  Therese,  these  letters  being 
brought  by  a  privateer  who  was  scouring  the  waters 
of  our  latitude  on  the  watch  for  foreign  craft. 

The  mysterious  expedition  had  been  the  outcome 
of  a  brilliant  plan  to  proceed  to  the  Gulf  of  Manathe 
and  capture  New  Amsterdam,  the  city  recently  taken 
from  the  Dutch  a  second  time  by  the  English,  and 
re-named  for  the  Duke  of  York.  But  the  project 
failed,  and  the  Sieur  de  la  Caffiniere  set  sail  for  the 
Old  World,  taking  Cadillac  with  him. 

"  Keenly  do  I  regret  our  prolonged  separation,  ma 
mie,"  wrote  De  la  Mothe  to  my  sister.  "  But  I  must 
follow  my  star,  that  one  day  its  radiance  may  shine 
upon  you  whom  I  so  dearly  love.  Only  to  the  bold 
man  does  Fortune  hold  out  a  helping  hand,  and 
luck  comes  but  to  those  who  go  after  it.  Be  of  good 
cheer.  Return  to  Quebec  in  the  spring,  if  you  so 
will,  and  there  await  my  coming,  which  shall  be  be- 
fore the  end  of  the  summer." 

Thus  it  was  that  our  Sieur  went  to  the  court  of  the 
Grand  Monarque.  Unhappily  his  resources  became 
exhausted  during  this  strange  quest  for  employment. 
Whatever  there  was,  we  sent  to  him ;  but  although 
he  found  favor  with  the  great  in  France,  he  was  soon 
forced  to  live  upon  borrowed  money. 

How  often  does  success  take  roads  that  lead  well- 
nigh  to  despair !  Had  Madame  Cadillac  returned  to 
Quebec  with  my  uncle  Guyon  when  he  came  again 
to  our  province,  she  might  have  escaped  grave  dan- 
ger. But  Therese  ever  believed  that  a  wife  is  her 
husband's  best  steward,  and  was  unwilling  to  intrust 


OUR   SIEUR'S   ACADIAN   HOME        47 

even  to  me  the  sole  management  of  the  fertile  lands 
granted  to  her  lord  by  the  Crown. 

One  May  morning,  as  I  looked  out  to  sea,  I  saw 
through  my  lenses  a  strange  ship  approaching  the 
harbor.  Presently  another  came  into  view,  and  then 
a  third. 

A  few  minutes  later,  a  messenger  upon  a  horse 
shod  with  fire  tore  down  the  road  from  the  Governor's 
residence. 

14  The  English,"  he  shouted  to  the  peasants  as  they 
rushed  out  of  their  houses,  "  the  English !  Arm 
yourselves  and  to  the  ramparts,  every  man  of  you  !  " 

It  was  as  when  a  whirlwind  threatens  our  crops  in 
midsummer,  or  a  wave  of  the  treacherous  sea  breaks 
through  the  dikes. 

The  Acadians  sprang  into  their  cabins,  tore  mus- 
kets, axes,  pikes  from  the  walls,  and  hurried  to  the 
fortifications.  The  women  too,  in  their  blue  kirtles 
and  with  the  strings  of  their  Normandy  caps  flying 
wild,  followed  to  the  stockade  with  the  ardor  of 
warriors. 

But  I  need  not  describe  the  defence  of  Port  Royal 
against  the  assault  of  the  freebooter  Sir  William 
Phipps.  The  story  of  the  brave  resistance  which  won 
for  our  small  garrison  honorable  terms  of  surrender, 
is  told  in  the  annals  of  New  France.  Having  fought 
my  best,  I  now  thought  the  time  was  come  to  keep 
my  promise  to  our  Sieur,  for  I  distrusted  the  pledges 
of  the  English  filibuster.  Madame  Cadillac  would 
fain  have  remained  to"  guard  the  interests  of  her  hus- 
band, but  I  reminded  her  of  my  command  to  guard 
her  safety  and  insisted  that  she  take  refuge  in  the 
woods. 

Our  party  consisted  of  Therese  and  her  child ;  a 
little  girl  cousin,  Elizabeth  Brunet,  whom  my  sister 


48      A   DAUGHTER   OF   NEW   FRANCE 

had  brought  from  Montreal ;  Gaspard,  the  Abenakai 
youth  that  Cadillac  had  rescued  just  as  a  band  of  sav- 
ages were  about  to  burn  him  at  the  stake ;  two  Indian 
guides,  and  myself. 

In  the  forest  we  lived  on  into  the  summer,  subsist- 
ing upon  edible  roots,  upon  rabbit's  meat,  and  the 
fish  of  the  pools  and  streams.  Occasionally  our  In- 
dians shot  a  deer,  and  often  their  arrows  or  my  own 
fusee  brought  down  wild  birds,  whereof  over  our 
camp-fire  Therese  made  a  ragout  that  was  most 
tasty. 

Madame  Cadillac  and  the  little  girl  Elizabeth  en- 
dured the  hardships  of  this  rude  life  uncomplainingly, 
and  the  winsome  baby  chirped  and  twittered  as  gayly 
as  any  nestling  in  the  trees  above  us,  by  her  pretty 
ways  beguiling  her  mother  to  merriment.  Even  I, 
who  was  wont  to  regard  her  with  amused  awe,  like  to 
a  boy  who  sees  in  an  aviary  some  pert  bird  of  a  rare 
species,  —  even  I  found  her  infant  coquetries  and 
smiling  humors  most  diverting ;  while,  when  she  lifted 
up  her  voice  and  wept,  her  baby  wail  disconcerted 
and  alarmed  me  more  than  would  the  prospect  of  a 
foe  lurking  in  the  underbrush. 

Ever  we  haunted  the  woods  near  the  coast,  and  at 
last  succeeded  in  signalling  a  French  vessel.  A  boat 
came  up  to  the  beach  for  us,  we  were  taken  to  the 
ship,  and  the  gold  I  had  brought  purchased  for  us 
passage  home. 

But  alack,  during  the  voyage  we  were  seized  by  a 
corsair.  For  the  sake  of  Therese  I  availed  of  the 
opportunity  offered  to  send  to  Quebec  and  beg  my 
father  to  ransom  us,  which  he  did  at  great  price.  On 
my  own  account  I  would  never  have  asked  it;  and 
indeed  I  felt  that  I  cut  a  sorry  figure  when,  after  our 
many  vicissitudes,  we  reached  our  parent's  roof. 


OUR   SIEUR'S   ACADIAN   HOME        49 

Later  we  learned  how  the  doughty  Sir  Phipps,  dis- 
regarding the  terms  of  capitulation,  gave  Port  Royal 
over  to  pillage ;  how  our  too  credulous  Governor  Men- 
eval  was  himself  held  a  prisoner,  plundered  of  clothes 
and  moneys,  and  carried  off  on  board  the  conqueror's 
frigate  to  view  the  further  spoliation  of  his  people. 

The  booty  taken  away  from  the  province  must 
have  paid  the  cost  of  the  expedition,  and  left  besides 
a  rich  surplus  to  be  divided  among  the  soldiers,  even 
though  the  commander  kept  the  best  of  the  spoils  for 
himself.  For  the  thrifty  leader  went  so  far  that  he 
actually  plundered  the  kitchens  and  wardrobes,  and 
Ther£se  often  speculated  as  to  how  Madame  Phipps 
was  pleased  with  certain  laced  gowns  clasped  with 
silver,  which  had  once  been  my  sister's  pride. 

As  for  our  Sieur's  home  in  fair  Acadia,  the  house, 
spacious  and  imposing  albeit  built  of  pine  logs,  was, 
like  the  other  principal  buildings  of  the  settlement, 
reduced  to  ashes.  His  fields  were  laid  waste,  his  fine 
herds  gone.  Of  all  his  estates  there  was  left  but  a 
desolated  tract  of  land ;  and  doubtless,  had  we  not  re- 
mained so  long  in  the  forest,  we  should  never  have 
gotten  away  at  all. 


CHAPTER   FIFTH 

A  MESSENGER  TO   COMTE  FRONTENAC 

PLEASANT  it  was  to  be  at  home  again  after  our 
three  years  of  absence.  Of  the  many  friends 
and  relatives  who  greeted  our  return  none  gave  me 
a  gayer  welcome  than  little  Barbe,  grown  taller  and 
still  more  winsome,  and  who  now,  forsooth,  assumed 
toward  me  a  half-perverse,  half-coaxing  humor, —  a 
pretty  coquetry  whereat  I  laughed,  it  being  amusing 
in  the  little  maid. 

Yet  it  tried  my  patience,  too,  and  caused  me  to 
lend  more  thought  to  the  pranks  of  the  saucy  minx 
than  was  merited  by  so  frivolous  a  subject.  What 
vexed  me  the  more  was  that  Robert  de  Reaume  gave 
over-attention  to  her  moods.  I  should  have  been 
better  pleased  to  see  him  bantering  pretty  speeches 
with  a  demoiselle  suited  to  him  in  age,  rather  than 
threatening  to  snatch  a  kiss  from  little  Barbe  at  every 
opportunity.  To  be  sure,  she  was  ever  so  swift  that 
he  ne'er  won  the  chance,  but  there  was  over-much 
parley  about  the  matter,  especially  since,  save  for  her 
greeting  to  me  upon  my  home  coming,  she  would 
never  let  me  have  a  kiss  either.  This  was  truly 
absurd,  for  erstwhile,  when  I  visited  Beauport,  she 
ever  came  with  me  to  the  house  door,  and  insisted 
that  I  bend  down  and  kiss  her  rosy  mouth  ere  I  rode 
away. 

Such  airs  do  young  maids  put  on  when  they  turn 
from  their  merry  games  and  romps  to  glance  into  a 


A   MESSENGER   TO   FRONTENAC       51 

mirror  and  discover  that  they  are  agreeable  to  the 
eye.  My  faith,  how  they  then  do  magnify  their  own 
importance ! 

Soon,  however,  I  had  scant  leisure  to  remark  upon 
the  whims  of  a  much-indulged  child.  The  welcome 
to  Therese  and  myself  was  scarce  over,  when  the  sen- 
sation created  by  our  arrival  was  forgotten  in  the 
greater  excitement  of  the  news  that  I  lamented  it 
had  not  been  our  fortune  to  bring.  One  drowsy 
afternoon  there  was,  all  at  once,  a  stir  in  the  town. 
I  had  taken  my  hat  and  was  about  to  go  out  to  see 
what  it  meant,  when  my  father  came  upstairs  from 
his  warehouse. 

"  Hein,  Normand  !  "  he  said,  "  here  is  startling  in- 
telligence. It  seems,  while  you  were  held  by  the  cor- 
sair, an  Indian  has  been  making  his  way  over-land 
from  Acadia.  His  story  is  that  the  Abenakai  have 
learned,  from  a  pale-face  woman  captured  near  a 
village  called  Portsmouth,  that  a  fleet  has  sailed  from 
the  south,  under  Sir  William  Phipps,  to  attack  our 
city.  Warning  of  the  danger  which  threatens  us  has 
been  cried  in  the  Market  Place,  and  a  messenger  has 
been  despatched  in  all  haste  up  the  river  to  Montreal, 
where  the  Sieur  Louis  de  Baude,  Comte  de  Frontenac, 
but  recently  established  himself  at  the  head  of  his 
forces." 

"  This  is  weighty  information,  surely !  "  I  cried, 
striding  up  and  down  the  floor  and  rattling  my  sword 
in  its  sheath.  "  5till,  our  Royal  Governor  is  more 
than  a  match  for  our  white  foes  and  the  Five  Nations 
combined.  Keen  is  my  impatience  to  see  the  great 
man  again.  During  his  former  term  of  office  I,  as  a 
boy,  looked  on  him  with  reverence  as  the  represen- 
tative of  the  Sun  King." 

"Ay,  ay,  now  above  the  murmurs  of   his  oppo- 


52      A   DAUGHTER   OF   NEW   FRANCE 

nents,  you  will  hear  the  voices  of  the  people  hailing 
him  as  the  man  destined  to  restore  to  hope  and 
courage  the  colony  prostrated  by  the  mistakes  of  his 
predecessors,  —  mistakes  that  have  brought  about 
this  war  with  the  southerners  and  the  Iroquois,"  de- 
clared Denys  Guyon,  sententiously. 

"But  think  you  he  will  get  back  in  time?"  I 
queried.  "  Will  he  not  be  intercepted  ?  " 

"  Never  fear,"  answered  my  father. 

Within  the  next  few  days  the  seigneurial  families 
flocked  from  far  and  near  to  the  town,  seeking  its 
greater  security;  and  among  them  came  the  family 
of  my  uncle  Guyon,  to  avail  of  the  protection  of  my 
father's  house  during  the  expected  siege. 

Frangois  Guyon  himself  remained  at  Beauport  in 
command  of  a  body  of  armed  peasantry  who  were 
ordered  to  watch  the  river  below  the  village. 

The  seigneurs  brought  with  them  their  censi- 
taires.  Early  and  late  the  streets  resounded  to 
the  tread  of  armed  men,  some  but  rudely  equipped 
with  farm  implements,  which  nevertheless  had  ere 
now  proved  in  their  hands  formidable  weapons. 

The  commissary  was  busy  provisioning  the  place; 
tradespeople  and  housewives  laid  in  supplies  and, 
notwithstanding  the  anxiety  dormant  in  every  heart, 
the  Market  Place  was  a  scene  of  gayety  and  thrift, 
of  barter  and  gossip,  of  meetings  of  old  acquaintance, 
of  flirtations  between  the  soldiers  and  the  bright-eyed 
young  maids  of  the  humbler  order,  —  for  where  is 
the  woman,  gentle  or  simple,  whose  fancy  is  not 
caught  by  the  color  of  a  military  coat  or  the  cockade 
of  a  soldier's  chapeau? 

One  morning,  soon  after  sunrise,  I  was  aroused  by 
a  confusion  outside  my  window,  a  cry  that  swept 
through  the  Lower  Town  like  the  current  of  the  river 


A   MESSENGER   TO    FRONTENAC       53 

lashing  against  the  Rock  after  a  storm.  Throwing 
open  the  casement,  I  saw  that  the  thoroughfare  was 
thronged  with  eager  townspeople  all  hurrying  to  the 
Esplanade. 

"  What  is  it,  —  the  enemy?  "  I  shouted  to  a  stout 
bourgeois  who  lagged  behind  his  fellows. 

"  The  enemy !  "  he  echoed  scornfully.  "  Do  you 
think  I  would  run  myself  into  the  risk  of  an 
apoplexy  for  an  enemy,  civilized  or  savage?  No,  it 
is  Comte  Frontenac  coming  home.  His  bateaux  have 
been  sighted  on  the  river." 

Forthwith  I  dressed,  intending  to  fare  forth  also 
for  the  quay  and  with  no  thought  of  other  comrade- 
ship than  my  trusty  rapier;  for  what  better  society 
should  be  desired  by  a  gallant  who  has  seen  both 
danger  and  adventure  than  the  good  sword  that  has 
served  him  well? 

As  I  passed  out,  who  should  catch  sight  of  me  but 
saucy  Barbe,  who  thereupon  cried  to  me  in  her  most 
coaxing  tones,  and  her  voice  was  as  sweet  as  a  bird's 
in  spring,  — 

"  Normand,  Normand,  take  me  with  you  !  " 

"  Tee,  Mignonne,  it  is  no  time  for  little  maids  to 
be  abroad,  when  highways  and  squares  are  filled  with 
rough  folk,"  I  answered  with  sternness.  "  You  would 
be  treated  with  scant  courtesy,  meet  with  rude 
speech,  and  mayhap  even  lose  yourself  amid  the 
uncouth  populace." 

"  How  can  I  lose  myself?  "  returned  the  mischief, 
pertly.  "  But  if  your  prowess,  my  chevalier  of  the 
raven  locks,  is  not  equal  to  the  test  of  protecting  me 
from  the  unmeaning  gruffness  of  our  humble  good 
folk  of  the  town,  or  your  arm  so  weak  you  cannot 
keep  me  from  being  batted  about  like  a  shuttle- 
cock among  the  crowd,  how  can  I  believe  the  stories 


54      A   DAUGHTER   OF   NEW    FRANCE 

Therese  tells  of  your  courage,  or  but  laugh  when  I 
see  you  taking  on  the  airs  of  a  hero?  " 

Now,  this  was  audacious  of  the  baggage,  for  well 
she  knew  I  am  not  one  to  boast,  or  take  to  myself 
credit  for  the  intrepidity  which  others  affirm  I  have 
ever  displayed  in  time  of  sudden  extremity  or 
stress. 

As  the  prick  of  a  sword  will  stir  the  blood  of  a 
man  so  that  he  rushes  madly  into  any  encounter  with- 
out stopping  to  question  whether  it  be  rash  or  no, 
so  the  sharpness  of  her  woman's  wit,  even  though  it 
were  but  like  to  the  sting  of  a  honey-bee,  —  if  the 
honey-bee  stings,  —  pestered  me  out  of  my  good 
judgment. 

"  Oh,  welladay,  Mam'selle  Malapert,  come  if  you 
will,"  I  responded  with  some  impatience.  "  You  say 
aright,  it  were  no  very  heroic  position  to  constitute  my- 
self the  squire  of  a  giddy  little  lass  into  whose  foolish 
brain  has  entered  the  wish  to  cast  aside  her  puppets 
and  follow  the  music  of  fife  and  drum.  But  if  you 
persist,  were  the  crowd  a  rabble  of  foreign  soldiery 
or  in  sooth  a  band  of  Iroquois,  'twould  pleasure  me 
as  well.  I  would  fain  show  you  that  my  claim  to 
valor,  poor  as  it  may  be,  does  not  rest  merely  on  the 
idle  gossip  of  my  good  sister,  though  perchance,  if 
what  she  says  be  not  true,  she  would  not  be  here 
awaiting  the  return  of  her  husband,  who  thought  well 
enough  of  my  spirit  to  commit  to  my  charge  her 
protection  and  security  during  his  enforced  absence 
in  France." 

Of  a  surety,  my  mood  was  no  encouragement  to 
the  child  to  burden  me  with  her  company.  Yet,  with 
a  merry  laugh,  she  gayly  caught  at  my  permission, 
bade  me  wait  until  she  should  get  the  pretty  new 
bonnet  that  Aunt  Guyon  had  bought  for  her  on  the 


A   MESSENGER   TO   FRONTENAC       55 

arrival  of  the  recent  ship  from  France,  and,  returning 
in  a  trice,  flitted  before  me  into  the  street. 

Once  out  of  doors,  however,  her  mood  changed, 
and  she  walked  beside  me  with  a  maidenly  sedate- 
ness  that  took  me  by  surprise  and  yet  pleased  me 
well,  for  I  saw  how  in  annoying  exigency  a  young 
maid's  natural  dignity  and  innocence  might  be 
to  her  an  armor  and  defence  against  rude  speech 
and  usage.  Thus  the  unwonted  gravity  of  little 
Barbe  interested  me  by  its  strangeness  even  more 
than  her  roguish  pranks  had  teased  me,  —  since  all 
the  while,  as  we  pursued  our  way,  she  chattered 
as  blithely  as  a  bird  sings. 

After  all,  I  was  glad  I  had  humored  the  child ;  it 
was  very  pleasant  to  have  her  tripping  beside  me 
thus,  and  altogether  I  was  more  content  than  I  had 
been  since  the  day  of  my  home-coming. 

With  the  throng,  we  made  our  way  to  the  prome- 
nade on  the  river  bank  planted  with  trees,  where  in 
those  days  the  King's  ships  landed.  The  fleet  of 
canoes  bearing  the  viceroy  and  his  company  of 
soldiers  had  been  sighted  afar  off  upon  the  broad 
waters  of  the  St.  Lawrence,  and  now  the  troops  from 
the  fort,  followed  by  the  populace,  came  down  to 
welcome  the  one  man  who  had  the  power  and  resource 
to  render  their  defeat  impossible. 

It  was  a  fine  sight  indeed,  —  the  long  row  of  glitter- 
ing bayonets  filing  down  from  the  Upper  Town  ;  the 
brave  Gascon  soldiers  in  their  blue  and  white  uni- 
forms, tall  caps,  and  long  queues ;  the  gorgeous 
officers,  the  gleaming  halberds  in  the  hands  of  the 
sergeants.  The  street  rang  with  the  notes  of  tambour 
and  flageolet,  and  as  the  marching  men  broke  into  a 
grand  chorus,  singing  with  spirit  the  martial  song 
which  rehearses  the  glories  of  our  great  King,  Louis 


56      A   DAUGHTER   OF   NEW   FRANCE 

the  Fourteenth,  I  experienced  a  thrill  of  enthusiasm, 
and  little  Barbe's  heart  beat  faster,  I  venture  to  say, 
as  she  clapped  her  hands,  and  her  cheeks  grew  the 
color  of  a  wild  rose. 

Now  the  chief  canoe  reached  the  shore,  and  the 
Governor  landed.  We  could  not  see  him,  because 
of  the  throng,  but  from  the  shouts  and  cheers,  and 
the  waving  of  caps,  we  knew  that  he  had  stepped 
ashore,  and  presently  discovered  that  he  willed  to  go 
at  once  to  inspect  the  fortifications,  albeit  great  was 
his  need  of  rest  and  refreshment  after  his  long 
voyage. 

For,  having  been  met  by  a  canoe  from  Quebec 
bringing  the  message  that  the  English  had  verily 
been  seen  above  Tadoussac,  he  had  sent  back  word  to 
Callieres,  Governor  of  Montreal,  to  come  down  to  our 
aid  with  all  the  forces  at  command,  and  then  urged 
his  Indian  boatmen  onward  through  the  pelting 
autumnal  rain-storm  which  had  continued  for  three 
days. 

Now,  however,  it  was  a  glorious  morning.  For- 
ever in  my  memory  is  stored  the  picture  of  the  fine 
old  man  as  on  foot  he  climbed  the  steep  ascent  of 
Mountain  Street.  If  I  but  close  my  bodily  eyes,  I 
see  again  with  the  eyes  of  my  spirit  the  brave  and 
fiery  soldier  whom  the  citizens  greeted  with  joy  as 
the  deliverer  who  would  help  them  in  this  hour  of 
trial,  and  to  whom  they  cried  out,  doffing  their 
caps,  — 

"  The  King  can  have  all  we  possess  and  ourselves 
too,  Monsieur  de  Frontenac,  if  you  will  save  us  from 
the  Bostonnais."  l 

To    these   acclamations    Monsieur   le    Comte    in- 

1  So  the  French  termed  all  their  English  neighbors  of  the  southern 
provinces. 


A   MESSENGER   TO   FRONTENAC      57 

clined  his  head  with  a  gracious  air  that  would  have 
become  royalty  itself. 

Often  afterwards,  recalling  that  day,  I  have  not 
wondered  at  the  ardor  which  the  usually  stolid 
Indians  themselves  showed  upon  another  occasion 
when,  the  Governor  having  gone  to  make  them  a 
visit  of  friendship,  they  lifted  him  in  his  canoe  upon 
their  shoulders  and  bore  him  in  triumph,  singing  and 
crying  out,  through  the  forest  and  along  the  margin 
of  the  rapids. 

The  imposing  array  of  troops  was  no  novel  sight 
to  Barbe.  Many  a  time  she  had  watched  the  morn- 
ing drill  in  the  Place  d'Armes.  With  the  appear- 
ance of  his  Excellency  she  was  familiar  too,  having 
seen  him,  Sunday  after  Sunday,  take  his  place  with 
state  in  the  elevated  royal  bane,  or  pew,  in  the  chan- 
cel of  the  cathedral ;  or  gazed  after  him  as,  escorted 
by  his  body-guard,  he  passed  through  the  streets  on 
his  way  from  the  Castle  of  St.  Louis  to  the  meetings 
of  the  Council,  at  the  Palace  of  the  Intendant. 

Nevertheless,  she  now  grasped  my  arm  as  he  ap- 
proached, and  her  bright  glance  fastened  upon  his 
face  with  an  expression  of  enthusiastic  confidence 
not  unmingled  with  awe,  as  though  her  child  heart 
said  that,  since  he  had  come,  she  would  be  no  longer 
afraid,  even  were  the  Bostonnais  in  the  very  act  of 
storming  the  cliff.  So  intent  was  her  gaze  that  it 
drew  to  itself  the  glance  of  Frontenac,  despite  the 
many  eyes  fastened  upon  him;  and  doubtless  the 
flushed  face  of  the  innocent  little  maid  appealed 
to  his  native  chivalry,  for  he  bent  upon  her  a  kindly 
look  as  he  passed,  and  for  an  instant  a  smile  sin- 
gularly gentle  and  winning  flitted  across  his  stern, 
care-lined  visage. 

Barbe  and  I  returned  to  the  house  in  high  feather, 


58      A   DAUGHTER   OF    NEW    FRANCE 

but  after  that  for  many  days  I  took  slight  notice  of 
her,  being  occupied,  as  was  every  man  who  could 
carry  a  musket  or  wield  a  sword,  with  the  grave 
matters  of  the  hour. 

In  the  small  hours  of  the  sixteenth  of  October  the 
alarm  went  through  the  city  that  the  lights  of  strange 
ships  had  been  descried  on  the  river.  When  day 
dawned  it  showed  the  fleet  of  the  English  passing  the 
Point  of  Orleans,  and  as  they  came  nearer,  we  who 
watched  them  from  the  citadel  saw  that  they  were 
well  manned  with  troops. 

As  I  contemplated  these  ships,  I  fell  to  musing, 
my  mind  busy  with  recollections  of  Acadia. 

"My  faith,  man,"  suddenly  exclaimed  a  voice 
at  my  elbow,  "  what  are  you  standing  here  for, 
raging  to  yourself  and  fretting  your  sword  in  its 
scabbard  as  though  you  would  fight  the  enemy 
single-handed?  " 

I  turned  and  saw  beside  me  my  friend  Robert  de 
Reaume,  who  like  myself  had  been  stationed  at  one 
of  the  batteries  during  the  night.  Although  the 
foreign  fleet  lay  in  the  stream,  her  commander 
showed  no  immediate  purpose  to  commence  hos- 
tilities. 

"  By  the  sword  of  St.  Michael,  the  doughty  Ship's 
Carpenter  designs  to  overhaul  his  craft  for  repairs 
before  action,  —  a  great  folly,  since  they  will  be  more 
in  need  of  patching  up  after  they  have  drawn  the 
fire  of  our  guns,"  exclaimed  De  Reaume  scornfully, 
in  allusion  to  the  humble  origin  of  the  Admiral. 
"  Grace  to  you,  good  sir,  since  you  would  give  us 
a  chance  to  dine  once  more  on  St.  Lawrence  eels, 
ere  you  steal  our  table  service,  our  spoons  and  forks 
and  cups,  our  vesture,  and  even  our  peruques.  Can 
it  be  that  we  shall  be  left  for  another  space  'twixt 


A   MESSENGER   TO   FRONTENAC       59 

sunrise  and  sunset  secure  in  the  possession  of  our 
nightcaps?" 

Thus  did  my  companion,  despite  the  gravity  of 
the  situation,  make  sport  of  Sir  Phipps'  confiscation 
of  the  domestic  goods  and  chattels  of  poor  Governor 
Meneval. 

But  I  was  not  in  a  jesting  humor,  and  turned 
away  my  face  toward  the  interior  of  the  fort,  while 
he  remained  scanning  the  river. 

"Ah,"  he  cried  presently,  "what  is  that?" 

Wheeling  about,  I  looked  again  toward  the  Eng- 
lish vessels  in  time  to  see  a  small  boat  leaving  the 
Admiral's  ship.  At  its  stern  fluttered  a  white  flag. 

"  A  flag  of  truce,"  muttered  Robert,  perplexed. 
"  What  can  be  the  meaning  of  this?  " 

As  we  looked,  four  canoes  put  out  from  the  Lower 
Town  and  met  the  enemy's  boat  midway.  Then 
we  saw  a  man  taken  from  the  boat  into  one  of  the 
canoes,  which  was  immediately  paddled  back  to  the 
shore. 

Having  been  relieved  at  our  posts,  we  were  free  to 
go  where  we  would  for  a  breathing-space.  Accord- 
ingly we  hurried  from  the  ramparts  as  though  shod 
with  the  shoes  of  St.  Christopher.  When,  making 
our  way  among  the  vociferating  populace,  we  reached 
the  Esplanade,  the  canoe  was  already  come  up  to  the 
landing.  The  Town  Marshal  had  passed  us,  escorted 
by  a  squad  of  soldiers.  Anon  we  beheld  the  same 
party  returning,  their  number  augmented  by  the 
presence  of  a  stranger. 

Between  two  sergeants  walked  an  English  officer 
with  firm  step  and  haughty  mien.  His  eyes  were 
covered  by  a  thick  bandage  which  hung  down  over 
his  face.  It  was  impossible,  therefore,  to  distinguish 
his  features,  but  I  judged  from  his  slight,  well-knit 


6o     A   DAUGHTER   OF   NEW   FRANCE 

figure  that  he  was  young.  Also  I  knew  from  his 
confident  bearing  that  he  was  brave,  and  a  true  man 
must  needs  pay  the  tribute  of  his  admiration  to 
bravery,  even  in  an  enemy. 

He  was,  obviously,  the  bearer  of  a  message  to  the 
governor ;  and,  in  pursuance  of  a  clever  ruse,  the  troops 
began  to  lead  him  to  the  Castle  by  a  circuitous  route, 
that  he  might  hear  the  sounds  of  warlike  prepara- 
tions, and  note  the  number  of  obstructions  and  bar- 
riers of  chevaux  de  frise  to  be  passed  in  the  ascent 
to  the  Upper  Town. 

As  we  followed  on,  Robert  and  I  fell  to  laughing 
at  the  deceptions  practised  to  induce  the  Southron 
to  believe  he  was  surrounded  by  a  numerous  garri- 
son. A  half-score  of  men  met  him  now  and  again, 
crossing  and  recrossing  his  path,  as  though  bands 
of  troops  were  continually  passing  along  the  way. 
With  secret  delight  his  conductors  made  him  clam- 
ber in  the  dark  over  the  same  barricade  many 
times.  He  was  jostled  and  hustled  by  the  noisy 
mob ;  and  finally,  the  marketwomen  and  the  merry 
maids,  ay,  and  more  than  one  grande  demoiselle 
and  dame  of  Quebec  who  chanced  to  be  caught  in 
the  rout,  applauded  these  buffooneries  and  cried  out 
in  gay,  though  scornful  badinage,  "  Colin  Maillard," 
"  Colin  Maillard,"  as  if  it  were  a  game  of  blind- 
man's  buff  and  the  officer  a  poor  fool  to  make 
merry  over. 

In  the  street,  and  borne  onward  by  the  crowd,  I 
saw  my  sister  Therese  and  little  Barbe  under  the 
care  of  my  father,  Denys  Guyon.  Upon  the  coun- 
tenance of  Madame  Cadillac  was  an  expression  of 
cold  disdain ;  she  did  not  condescend  to  smile  at  the 
ludicrous  position  of  the  unfortunate  officer,  while, 
to  my  surprise,  Babette,  whose  wont  it  was  to  be 


A   MESSENGER   TO   FRONTENAC       61 

so  easily  moved  by  drollery,  appeared  now  quite 
grave. 

Did  the  English  blood  that  gave  to  her  fair  cheek 
the  flush  of  the  wild  rose  cause  her  to  sympathize 
with  the  Bostonnais,  or  was  it  only  that  she  pitied  his 
plight? 

It  must  be  the  latter,  I  quickly  concluded,  for  little 
Barbe  was  true  as  steel,  and  I  could  not  believe  that 
her  heart,  like  a  captive  sea-gull  winging  away  at  the 
first  chance  of  returning  to  its  native  element,  had 
taken  refuge  with  the  southern  ships. 

After  this  glimpse  of  Barbe's  serious  face  and  of 
Therese  in  her  silent  dignity,  I  laughed  no  more  at 
the  stranger,  however,  but  continued  on  with  Reaume 
to  see  the  end  of  the  affair. 

I  think  the  officer  perceived  to  some  extent  the 
trick  played  upon  him,  but  the  ruse  succeeded  in 
that  it  led  him  to  suppose  the  town  well  defended. 

Eh,  bien !  he  was  thus  conducted  over  the  three 
barricades  of  Mountain  Street  and  onward,  to  the 
Place  d'Armes.  The  broad  square  was  now  occu- 
pied by  troops  whose  flashing  bayonets  gave  back 
the  rays  of  the  sun,  and  at  the  sally-port  of  the 
Castle  the  sentries  paced  to  and  fro. 

Never  to  me  had  the  old  Chateau  of  St  Louis, 
founded  by  the  great  Champlain,  appeared  so  ma- 
jestic as  now  with  the  morning  light  shining  upon 
its  gray  walls  and  bastions. 

As  the  soldiers  led  the  messenger  through  the 
archway  above  which  gleams  the  golden  shield  of 
the  fleur-de-lis,  we  pressed  forward  also,  and  by 
virtue  of  our  commissions  were  permitted  to  pass 
the  guard  and  gained  admittance  ta  the  assembly 
hall. 

In  those  days  the  spacious  audience  chamber  was 


62      A    DAUGHTER   OF    NEW   FRANCE 

not  so  magnificently  appointed  as  now,  but  presented 
a  curious  contrast  of  splendor  and  rudeness,  its  adorn- 
ment suggesting  nearness  to  the  forest  as  well  as  the 
refinements  of  civilized  life. 

Among  the  rich  tapestries  that  screened  the  oaken 
wainscoting  of  the  room  were  to  be  seen,  now  and 
again,  a  brown  buffalo  skin,  or  the  pelt  of  a  fox  or 
beaver;  above  the  wide  doorway  hung  the  strong 
flat  antlers  of  a  moose;  over  a  rich  painting  here 
and  there  were  disposed,  like  garlands,  parti-colored 
strings  of  wampum  ;  while  amid  the  swords,  muskets, 
and  halberds  that  ornamented  the  walls,  appeared  an 
Iroquois  tomahawk  and  flint-tipped  Indian  arrows. 

But  on  this  occasion  I  gave  not  a  second  thought 
to  the  furnishings  of  the  salon,  for  we  found  ourselves 
among  a  most  distinguished  company.  Here  were 
gathered  representatives  of  the  wealthy  and  promi- 
nent citizens,  the  civic  authorities ;  French  and  Cana- 
dian officers,  some  of  them  of  the  famous  regiment 
of  Carignan-Sallieres,  Maricourt,  Sainte-Helene,  Ville- 
bon,  Valrenne,  Iberville,  made  gorgeous  pictures 
in  their  gold-laced  uniforms,  peruques  and  powder, 
plumed  chapeaux  and  crimson  sashes. 

Upon  the  elevated  platform  at  one  end  of  the 
chamber  sat  the  most  important  personages  of  New 
France, — Champigny,  the  Intendant ;  Monseigneur  de 
Laval,  who  three  years  before  had  resigned  from  the 
active  labors  of  the  bishopric ;  and  Monsieur  de 
Frontenac,  who  occupied  the  throne-like,  sculptured 
chair  of  state  in  the  centre  and  a  step  higher  than 
the  others. 

In  so  illustrious  a  throng  I  was  soon  crowded  to  the 
wall;  but  I  was  content,  since  my  obscure  position 
was  an  excellent  coign  of  vantage,  whence  I  could 
observe  all  that  might  take  place. 


A   MESSENGER   TO   FRONTENAC       63 

The  sergeants  with  their  charge  had  already  halted 
at  the  foot  of  the  dais.  With  an  imperious  wave  of 
the  hand  Comte  Frontenac  now  directed  them  to  re- 
move the  bandage  wherewith  the  envoy  was  blind- 
folded. 

They  obeyed.  As  the  sunlight  pouring  into  the 
chamber  struck  the  long-darkened  eyes  of  the 
Englishman,  its  beams,  flashing  from  the  burnished 
weapons  on  the  wall,  the  brilliant  uniforms  and 
jewelled  sword-hilts  of  the  officers,  seemed  to  blind 
him  anew. 

Involuntarily  he  recoiled  a  pace  or  two,  drew  his 
hand  across  his  brow,  and  then  stared  in  wonder 
around  the  august  assembly,  before  which  he  was 
evidently  greatly  surprised  to  find  himself. 

He  was  a  handsome  man,  scarce  more  than  a  lad, 
straight,  and  strong,  and  soldierly  in  his  bearing;  and 
the  thought  passed  through  my  mind  that  verily  an 
antagonist  such  as  he  was  worthy  of  my  steel. 

Quickly  recovering  his  self-possession,  the  young 
Bostonnais  bowed  to  the  Governor  and  said  deferen- 
tially, yet  with  something  of  brusqueness,  — 

"  Your  Excellency,  I  would  that  the  duty  assigned 
me  were  of  a  more  agreeable  nature.  I  am  the  bearer 
of  a  letter  from  Sir  William  Phipps,  Knight-General, 
and  Commander  in  the  New  World  by  Land  and  Sea 
of  the  Forces  of  their  Majesties,  William  and  Mary 
of  England,  to  Comte  Frontenac,  Representative  of 
the  King  of  France  in  Canada." 

Thereupon  he  handed  a  document  to  Monsieur  le 
Comte,  who  passed  it  over  to  an  interpreter,  and  the 
latter  read  it  aloud  in  French. 

How  my  blood  boiled  as  I  listened !  The  missive 
was  nothing  less  than  a  demand  from  the  freebooter 
Admiral  that  we  surrender  to  him  our  citadel,  with  our 


64      A   DAUGHTER   OF   NEW   FRANCE 

fortifications  and  castle  undemolished,  and  the  King's 
and  other  stores  unembezzled ;  also,  that  we  give  up 
all  captives,  and  render  over  to  him  ourselves  and  our 
estates.  Further,  it  set  forth  that  upon  our  refusal 
thus  to  do,  he  would  compel  us  to  subjection  by  force 
of  arms.  "  And  to  this  summons,"  the  arrogant  com- 
munication continued,  "  an  answer  must  be  returned 
by  our  own  trumpet,  with  safe  conduct  to  the  messen- 
ger, upon  the  peril  that  would  otherwise  ensue." 

When  the  reading  of  this  letter  was  finished,  the 
officer  coolly  pulled  out  his  watch  and  held  it  up  for 
the  gaze  of  the  Governor. 

"  I  care  not  to  see  the  time,"  said  Comte  Fronte- 
nac  with  his  grand  manner,  before  which  there  was 
but  one  in  the  Colony  who  had  not  on  occasion 
quailed,  —  the  venerable  bishop,  in  whom  the  uncon- 
querable spirit  of  the  ancient  house  of  Laval-Mont- 
morenci  still  lived. 

"  Then  I  beg  to  inform  your  Excellency  that  it  is 
ten  of  the  clock,"  replied  the  Englishman  quietly,  "  and 
I  must  have  the  answer  to  this  communication  of  my 
chief  by  eleven." 

When  the  import  of  his  words  was  explained  by 
the  interpreter,  a  loud  chorus  of  angry  exclamations 
rang  through  the  chamber,  re-echoing  among  the 
dark  rafters  of  the  roof,  while  every  man  present  half 
drew  his  sword. 

"  Pardieu  !  "  called  out  Valrenne,  when  the  hubbub 
grew  fainter  for  the  moment.  "  Who  is  this  Sir  Phipps 
who  makes  so  ludicrous  a  demand  of  us?  A  lawless 
corsair.  Out  upon  the  knave  who  has  had  the  hardi- 
hood to  offer  this  astounding  proposition  to  the 
Council  of  Quebec  and  to  our  illustrious  Lord 
Governor !  He  who  brought  the  insult,  too,  ought 
to  pay  for  his  audacity  with  his  life." 


A   MESSENGER   TO   FRONTENAC      65 

For  a  moment  grave  was  the  danger  of  the  en- 
voy, but  any  emotion  he  experienced  at  the  jeop- 
ardy wherein  he  stood  was  imperceptible  to  the  foes 
about  him. 

How  the  dark  faces  of  the  officers  glowered  upon 
the  unfortunate  man  !  The  black  eyes  of  the  Intend- 
ant  flashed  vindictively,  and  as  for  the  lion-hearted 
Frontenac,  one  could  see  by  his  lowering  visage  that 
his  rage  was  fierce  indeed. 

Controlling  himself  to  a  remarkable  degree,  how- 
ever, and  ignoring  the  impetuous  outburst  of  Val- 
renne,  the  Governor  responded  with  imperious 
promptness,  with  which  was  yet  mingled  the  fine 
courtesy  that  distinguished  him  as  one  accustomed 
to  the  usages  of  the  most  polite  court  of  Europe. 

"  Sir,  you  ask  an  answer  in  an  hour.  I  will  not 
trouble  you  to  wait  so  long.  Here  is  my  reply: 
I  have  knowledge  of  no  such  sovereign  as  William 
of  England ;  but  since  my  august  master,  Louis  the 
Fourteenth,  has  accorded  hospitality,  aid,  and  protec- 
tion to  James  Stewart,  the  legitimate  sovereign  of  Sir 
William  Phipps,  your  Admiral  need  not  be  surprised 
that  I  regard  him  but  as  a  rebel  against  that  prince, 
and  his  letter  as  beneath  my  notice. 

"  Moreover,"  continued  Frontenac  with  a  smile,  as 
he  turned  to  the  officers  gathered  about  him,  "even 
had  your  chief  offered  me  more  advantageous  terms, 
and  I  were  of  a  temper  to  consider  them,  does  he 
imagine  that  these  gentlemen  would  agree  to  his 
conditions?  " 

During  this  straightforward  speech  of  his  Excel- 
lency the  young  officer  lost  scarce  a  whit  of  his  air 
of  nonchalance. 

Yet  "  it  is  better  to  be  the  hammer  than  the  anvil," 
and,  courageous  as  he  was,  no  doubt  he  felt  loath  to 
5 


66      A   DAUGHTER   OF    NEW    FRANCE 

face  the  fury  of  the  choleric  Sir  Phipps  by  the  de- 
livery of  so  haughty  a  message. 

"  Will  your  Excellency  have  the  answer  set  down 
in  writing,  that  I  may  carry  it  to  my  chief  in  due 
form?"  he  asked,  as  he  saluted  once  more  with  cool 
formality. 

"No,"  returned  Frontenac,  decisively:  "  I  will  an- 
swer your  General  only  by  the  mouth  of  my  cannon, 
and  thus  will  I  teach  him  that  a  man  such  as  I  am  is 
not  to  be  summoned  after  this  fashion.  Let  him  do 
his  best  and  I  will  do  mine." 

So  saying,  he  rose  abruptly,  —  a  signal  for  the  dis- 
missal of  the  assembly. 

The  Englishman  was  forthwith  blindfolded  again, 
led  over  the  barricades  once  more,  and  sent  back  in 
his  boat  to  the  ship. 

After  this  there  was  an  ominous  quiet  for  some 
hours,  during  which,  as  we  learned  afterwards,  Sir 
Phipps  held  a  council  of  war  and  planned  an  attack 
upon  Beauport,  this  intelligence  being  given  to  us  by 
the  Sieur  de  Granville,  whom  they  had  as  a  prisoner 
upon  the  flagship. 

Our  resourceful  Governor,  on  his  part,  employed 
this  time  of  calm  that  preceded  the  swiftly  ap- 
proaching storm,  in  completing  all  preparations  and 
strengthening  our  defences 


CHAPTER  SIXTH 
THE  BUCCANEER'S  SIEGE 

NOR  did  Quebec  trust  alone  to  her  strong  posi- 
tion, the  courage  of  her  soldiery,  the  hardi- 
hood of  her  people. 

"  Let  us  invoke  the  God  of  armies,"  cried  the  ven- 
erable De  Laval,  as  he  stood  in  the  pulpit  of  the 
cathedral  with  uplifted  hands  and  eyes,  while  the 
crowd  of  citizens,  noble  and  humble,  and  the  habi- 
tans  who  had  sought  protection  within  the  city  sank 
to  their  knees  on  the  pavement,  the  women  weeping 
in  foreboding  of  the  horrors  of  the  coming  siege,  the 
burghers  and  habitans  renewing  their  resolution  of 
resistance. 

"  Let  us  pledge  ourselves,"  he  continued,  with  the 
patriotism  of  his  race,  "  vowing  that  if  God  will  as- 
sist us  to  drive  away  the  enemy  at  our  gates,  we  will 
render  to  Him  our  thanks  and  the  honor  thereof 
forever." 

"  Amen,"  responded  the  Comte  de  Frontenac,  from 
his  elevated  chair  in  the  chancel,  and  his  rich  voice 
resounded  through  the  nave  like  a  grand  note  from 
an  organ. 

"  Amen,"  echoed  the  Intendant,  from  the  other  side 
of  the  nave. 

"Amen,"  repeated  the  kneeling  congregation  in 
fervid,  impassioned  acclamation. 

"  Amen,"  I  cried  with  those  around  me,  drawing 
my  sword  and  flashing  it  aloft,  as  did  every  officer 


68      A  DAUGHTER   OF   NEW   FRANCE 

present,  while  the  women  clasped  their  hands  or 
beat  their  breasts,  and  a  chorus  of  petition  rose  and 
swelled  through  the  vast  edifice  like  a  wave  of  the 
sea  or  a  long,  deep  roll  of  thunder. 

The  vow  was  duly  registered,  and  the  ceremony 
concluded  with  the  usual  benediction. 

As  the  people  streamed  out  of  church,  some  ex- 
cited and  ardent,  others  grave  and  earnest,  among  a 
little  knot  of  women  worshippers,  dames  and  demoi- 
selles of  quality,  I  caught  a  glimpse  of  my  sister 
Therese,  again  with  little  Barbe  under  her  wing. 

Making  my  way  through  the  crowd,  I  joined 
them  as  they  came  down  the  steps  into  the  Market 
Place. 

Although  Madame  Cadillac  appeared  pale,  she  was 
outwardly  as  calm  as  though  she  were  setting  forth 
to  attend  a  social  function  at  the  Chateau,  rather  than 
going  home  to  await  in  our  care-shadowed  house  the 
trials  that  the  day  might  bring. 

"  Ah,  Therese,  you  are  the  worthy  wife  of  a  sol- 
dier," I  cried,  impressed  by  her  composure,  now  that 
the  danger  was  really  upon  us. 

"  I  hope  so,  Normand,"  she  answered  with  the 
brave,  sweet  smile  that  had  so  often  cheered  me 
amid  our  perils  in  Acadia.  "  Yet,  alas,  a  woman's 
heart  is  ever  torn  by  conflicting  emotions  of  love 
and  fear.  One  moment  I  grieve,  and  the  next  I 
am  selfishly  glad  that  my  husband  is  not  here,  but 
speeding  hither  on  the  King's  ship  now  due  from 
France.  What  think  you,  Normand,  will  this  frigate 
from  the  old  country  be  cut  off  from  us  by  these 
southern  marauders,  who  know,  I  doubt  not,  that  it 
is  on  its  way?  Will  there  be  a  fight?  Cadillac 
would  ask  no  better  fortune;  but,  Normand,  shall 
I  ever  see  him  again?  He  was  the  lover  of  my 


THE   BUCCANEER'S   SIEGE  69 

girlish  dreams,  and  he  will  ever  be  the  hero  of  my 
heart's  devotion." 

"  Yes,  you  are  the  worthy  wife  of  a  soldier,  my 
sister,"  I  repeated,  knowing  that  such  words  would 
best  sustain  her  courage.  "  And  you  will  find  small 
leisure  even  to  fear,  presently.  But  hope  and  pray 
as  you  will,  for  the  prayers  of  a  good  wife  are  a 
soldier's  best  armor." 

"  Wherefore  then  have  you  not  provided  yourself 
with  such  a  coat  of  mail,  the  burden  whereof  would 
rest  less  upon  your  own  shoulders  than  upon  the 
heart  of  another,  Cousin  Normand?"  chimed  in  little 
Barbe,  with  roguish  nafvet& 

"  Chut,  Mam'selle  Malapert,  because  the  demoi- 
selles nowadays  are  more  pleased  with  the  strains 
of  a  violin  than  fond  of  household  tasks,  less  prone 
to  the  tambour  frame  than  to  the  beribanding  of  their 
hair  and  the  adornment  of  their  vanity,"  I  answered, 
half  in  impatience,  half  in  raillery. 

"  Phouff,"  returned  the  saucy  maid,  with  a  gay 
toss  of  the  head.  "  Do  you  want  better  bread  than 
wheaten?  You  cannot  judge  by  the  label  on  the 
bag; "  but  thereon,  as  she  saw  me  frown,  her  mobile 
face  took  on  a  sudden  gravity  and  she  added  sweetly : 
"  As  you  have  no  wife  to  pray  for  you,  cousin,  and 
since  I  put  up  a  petition  for  you  to-day  before  the 
altar  of  Notre  Dame,  well,  'a  web  begun  is  half 
done/  so  I  must  perforce  go  on  with  the  work 
and  weave  you  a  fine  suit  of  chain  armor  for  your 
safeguard  during  the  siege." 

"  Do  so,  pretty  one,"  I  said ;  and,  retaining  the 
little  hand  she  had  involuntarily  slipped  into  mine,  I 
raised  it  to  my  lips  with  a  thrill  of  emotion,  I  must 
confess,  albeit  't  was  the  tenderness  with  which  one 
caresses  the  pink-tipped  fingers  of  a  child. 


7o     A   DAUGHTER   OF   NEW   FRANCE 

"And  what  think  you  of  my  courage?"  she  de- 
manded teasingly,  while  Madame  Cadillac  walked 
beside  us  with  an  absent  air,  absorbed  in  her  own 
thoughts. 

"  Oh,  you  will  be  the  wife  of  a  soldier  too,  some 
day;  but,  no,  I  would  rather  see  you  a  veiled  nun, 
behind  the  grille  of  the  Ursulines,"  I  concluded 
brusquely,  as  the  recollection  of  De  Reaume's  foolish 
encouragement  of  her  natural  coquetry  obtruded 
itself  upon  me. 

"  Ho,  ho !  Belike  it  will  not  be  for  you  to  have 
aught  to  say  in  the  matter,"  she  retorted,  snatch- 
ing away  her  hand,  and  flushing  the  color  of  a 
peach-blossom.  "  I  have  heard  of  worse  fates  than 
the  peaceful  life  of  the  cloister,  and  have  often 
fancied  that  mayhap  I  should  like  to  pass  my  life 
there." 

While  the  little  maid  ran  on  thus,  we  reached  the 
door  of  my  father's  house,  and  at  the  threshold  I 
took  leave  for  the  nonce  of  my  sister  and  her  young 
charge,  happy  that  Therese  showed  such  good  nerve, 
and  winsome  Barbe  so  bold  a  spirit,  yet  reflecting 
that  the  poor  child  was  unappalled  by  the  impending 
dangers  and  sufferings,  simply  because  her  gentle 
mind  could  form  no  conception  of  the  miseries  of 
a  siege  or  the  carnage  of  war.  And  I  grew  sick 
at  heart  as  I  thought  of  the  enlightenment  that  must 
come  to  her  when  the  guns  should  begin  their  ter- 
rible play. 

Having  seen  madame  and  the  dainty  demoiselle 
safely  within  doors,  I  returned  to  the  ramparts. 
Despite  the  valor  of  the  garrison  and  people  and 
the  imperious  stout-heartedness  of  the  Governor,  the 
very  atmosphere  that  hung  over  the  city  seemed 
laden  with  a  grave  anxiety,  for  the  fate  of  New 


THE    BUCCANEER'S   SIEGE  71 

France  depended  on  the  issue  of  this  conflict  of  the 
next  few  days. 

Moreover,  the  best  cause  needs  help,  and  as  yet  we 
had  no  news  of  the  expected  troops  from  Montreal. 
Thus  amid  clouds  of  apprehension  the  afternoon 
drew  to  a  close. 

At  sunset,  like  the  welcome  breeze  that  springs  up 
of  a  summer's  evening,  came  word  from  the  look-out 
at  the  highest  point  of  the  citadel  that  a  dark  moving 
mass,  as  a  shadow  on  the  landscape,  was  to  be  seen 
approaching  across  the  country  from  the  west. 

An  hour  later  the  shadow  resolved  itself  into  a 
body  of  marching  men.  Then  dusk  fell,  shutting 
them  out  from  view. 

About  eight  of  the  clock  a  great  shout  arose  from 
the  western  gate,  and  a  roll  of  drums  with  the  music 
of  fifes  proclaimed  through  the  town  that  our  friends 
from  Ville  Marie  had  come  to  our  assistance,  having 
eluded  the  besiegers  under  cover  of  the  darkness. 

Never  shall  I  forget  the  joy  of  their  entrance  into 
the  city,  —  how  our  soldiers  shouted  and  threw  their 
caps  into  the  air,  yet  the  breach  of  discipline  passed 
unreproved;  how  the  burghers  flocked  into  the 
thoroughfares  and  yelled  themselves  hoarse  with 
enthusiasm ;  and  the  women  stood  at  the  doors 
waving  kerchiefs,  ran  out  of  the  houses  to  greet 
the  newcomers  with  blessings,  or  fell  on  their  knees 
in  the  streets,  thanking  Providence  for  the  aid  sent 
to  Quebec. 

How  all  hailed  Callieres,  the  gallant  Governor  of 
Montreal,  as  he  passed  at  the  head  of  his  eight 
hundred  men !  These  were  followed  by  a  large  com- 
pany of  coureurs  de  bois,  voyageurs,  young  sons 
from  the  seigneuries  along  the  river,  with  their  cen- 
sitaires.  In  truth,  a  goodly  band,  they  came  march- 


72      A    DAUGHTER    OF   NEW    FRANCE 

ing  down  the  street  of  St.  Louis,  singing,  at  the 
full  strength  of  their  lungs,  "La  Clair  Fontaine," 
and  cheering  in  glad  triumph. 

I  need  not  repeat  in  detail  the  story  of  the  next 
three  days,  during  which  Sir  Phipps,  after  several 
attempts,  effected  a  landing  at  Beauport;  yet  I  was 
in  the  fight  under  Sainte-Helene,  when  the  invaders 
were  driven  back. 

On  the  third  day,  while  we  were  still  engaged  at 
the  outposts,  the  air  was  rent  as  by  a  thunderbolt, 
followed  by  a  dull  roar  of  reverberation  from  the 
rocky  heights  of  Cape  Diamond,  La  Tourmente,  and 
the  Cap  Rouge,  and  a  fainter  echo  from  the  distant 
hills.  Sir  Phipps  being  on  the  point  of  opening 
fire  upon  Quebec,  our  indomitable  Comte  Frontenac 
had  begun  the  battle  with  this  ringing  shot  of 
defiance. 

Enraged,  the  Admiral  answered  with  every  gun 
he  possessed,  while  the  fortress  gave  him  round  for 
round  ;  't  was  like  to  volleys  of  musketry. 

When  our  company  returned  at  night  from  Beau- 
port,  the  firing  had  ceased,  but  the  next  morning 
the  Governor  sent  the  besiegers  a  hot  shot  by  way  of 
breakfast  and  the  cannonading  recommenced. 

I  was  sent  to  a  battery  of  the  Lower  Town,  com- 
manded by  Marincourt,  who  worked  with  a  boyish 
glee  as  if  at  target  practice,  and  by  his  cheery  and 
dauntless  spirit  made  us  forget  the  withering  fire 
directed  against  our  position. 

"  It  is  well  to  aim  well,"  he  said,  taking  as  a  mark 
the  flag-staff  of  the  Admiral's  ship.  Swift  and  sure 
the  ball  sped,  for  presently  we  saw  the  staff  snap  in 
twain,  and  the  ensign  of  St.  George  fell  into  the 
river  and  was  borne  away  by  the  current. 

"Who  will  capture  it?"  cried  Marincourt,  chafing 


THE   BUCCANEER'S   SIEGE  73 

that  he  could  not  go  himself,  being  unable  to  leave 
his  post. 

But  there  were  not  wanting  volunteers  for  so  dash- 
ing an  adventure. 

"  By  your  leave,  Sieur  Capitaine,  I  will  take  with 
me  two  others  and  go  out  and  get  it,"  pleaded  the 
stalwart  soldier  Jean  Joly,  eager  for  the  perilous 
office. 

"  Eh  bien,  go !  "  tersely  returned  Marincourt,  ad- 
dressing himself  again  to  the  firing. 

Choosing  his  men,  Jean  thereupon  put  out  in  a 
canoe  and  was  paddled  into  the  mid-stream.  The 
English  saw  and  shot  at  the  little  craft,  but  it  escaped 
and  reached  the  flag  lying  on  the  water. 

Then  Jean  Joly,  dit  Jolicceur,  bending  over  from 
the  canoe,  caught  up  from  the  tide  the  red  banner, 
and  the  little  bark  darted  for  the  shore,  which  it 
reached  in  safety  with  the  glorious  prize  thus  plucked 
from  beneath  the  very  beard  of  the  enemy. 

It  is  this  banner  that  was  hung  up  as  a  votive 
offering  in  the  church  of  Notre  Dame  des  Victoires 
built  in  commemoration  of  the  preservation  of  Que- 
bec in  the  Market  Place  of  the  Lower  Town. 

At  last,  one  of  the  ships  being  disabled  and  another 
a  wreck,  Sir  Phipps  withdrew  all  his  vessels  out  of 
range. 

I  had  not  been  at  home  for  three  days.  Now, 
being  relieved  from  duty  for  a  space,  I  bent  my 
steps  toward  my  father's  house,  not  knowing  but  that 
a  tragic  tale  might  meet  me  at  the  threshold  or  that 
the  fire  of  the  besiegers  might  have  razed  the  old 
home  and  sent  into  eternity  the  loved  ones  gathered 
about  its  hearthstone.  Thank  God,  I  found  it  intact 
and  the  dwellers  therein  unharmed,  although  nearly 
prostrated  by  the  strain.  For  notwithstanding  that 


74      A   DAUGHTER   OF   NEW    FRANCE 

womankind  can  be  brave  in  emergency,  can  sustain 
the  courage  of  a  man,  or  impulsively  rush  into  dan- 
ger to  protect  a  child  or  rescue  one  they  love,  it 
is  small  wonder  that  so  fiery  an  ordeal  as  the  late 
action  should  have  played  havoc  with  the  nerves  of 
the  ladies  of  my  family,  so  that  at  their  weeping  and 
then  jesting  the  next  moment  I  was  much  perplexed. 

My  mother  clung  to  me  as  if  she  would  never  let 
me  go  again,  but  little  Barbe  demanded  pertly  how 
it  was  that  I  had  not  been  wounded. 

"  'T  would  pleasure  you,  mam'selle,  and  accord 
with  your  romancing  without  a  doubt,  had  I  been 
brought  home  like  a  Spartan  soldier  on  his  shield," 
I  answered  curtly.  "  But  soldiers  have  thrown  away 
their  shields  long  since.  And  as  for  my  having  es- 
caped unscathed,  was  it  not  you  who  buckled  on  my 
armor,  so  to  speak?  Were  your  prayers  so  idle  that 
you  felt  they  would  avail  me  nothing?  " 

At  this  her  temper  changed,  like  the  teasing  bit  of 
April  weather  that  it  was,  and  laying  a  light  clasp 
on  my  arm,  she  said,  her  eyes  filling  with  tears  that 
yet  sparkled  as  diamonds  in  the  sunshine  of  her 
smile: 

"Ay,  I  did  pray  for  you,  cousin,  many  times  in 
words,  and  ever  in  my  heart  during  these  last  days, 
and  —  Why,  you  are  wounded  ;  see  the  blood  upon 
your  hand !  " 

At  these  words  the  silly  maid  went  pale,  and  trem- 
bled so  that  if  I  had  not  caught  her  she  would  have 
fallen. 

"  Tut,  tut !  "  I  cried,  breaking  into  a  laugh.  "  'T  is 
nothing!  A  scratch  I  got  at  the  gun  in  some  way; 
I  had  not  noticed  it  before." 

But,  despite  my  protest,  she  must  needs  bind  it  up, 
which  I  finally  suffered  her  to  do,  in  punishment  of 


THE   BUCCANEER'S   SIEGE  75 

her  former  hard-heartedness,  the  while  I  inquired 
how  she  had  stood  her  baptism  of  fire. 

"  In  truth,  Normand,  when  the  guns  began  to  roar, 
I  hid  away  in  a  corner  of  the  house,  half  dead  with 
fright,"  she  acknowledged,  after  beating  about  the 
bush,  and  making  as  though  she  had  been  used  to 
sieges  all  her  life.  "  It  was  like  a  great  storm  of 
thunder  and  lightning,  when  no  place  is  secure 
against  the  death-dealing  bolts  from  the  sky.  Oh,  it 
is  a  wonder  my  hair  did  not  turn  white !  Truly, 
cousin,  do  you  not  see  some  silver  threads  here?  " 

And  catching  at  a  long  lock  of  her  light  hair,  she 
held  it  up  before  me  with  a  pretty  coquetry,  whereat 
I  wound  the  soft  curl  around  a  finger  of  my  unbound 
hand,  and  then,  bethinking  me  that  this  was  foolish- 
ness, shook  it  quickly  off  again. 

"Ta-ta!  For  all  her  fears,  little  Barbe  acquitted 
herself  well,"  maintained  my  aunt  Guyon,  stoutly. 
"  And  after  the  first  hour  or  two,  she  lent  her  aid  in 
the  household  tasks,  like  the  rest  of  us,  even  though 
to-day,  when  the  firing  was  heaviest,  some  twenty 
balls  fell  into  the  garden,  and  two  at  least  struck  the 
house.  But,  happily,  their  force  was  spent  and  they 
did  no  damage  save  to  shatter  pieces  of  the  rock. 
When  the  bombardment  ceased  for  a  spell,  we  gath- 
ered up  the  balls  and  sent  them  to  the  gunners  near- 
est to  us,  who  duly  returned  them  to  their  owners 
through  the  cannon's  mouth,  —  as  our  clever  Gov- 
ernor Frontenac  said  to  the  envoy  —  ha,  ha,  ha !  " 

"Ah,  Normand,  we  can  make  merry  now,"  con- 
tinued Barbe,  a  pitiful  look  crossing  her  sweet  face. 
"  Yet  it  was  a  sorrowful  sight  to  behold  the  people 
abandoning  the  Lower  Town,  as  we  too  must  have  done 
were  not  this  dwelling  built  of  stone.  Many  of  our 
neighbors  took  refuge  within  the  Seminary,  others  at 


76      A    DAUGHTER   OF   NEW   FRANCE 

the  Hotel  Dieu.  The  cellars  of  the  Ursuline  Convent 
are  filled  with  women  and  children  who  there  sought 
shelter;  the  wood-pile  is  being  used  for  camp-fires, 
the  beans  and  cabbages  from  the  convent  garden 
have  all  been  taken  to  feed  the  soldiers.  To-day 
one  of  the  nuns  had  a  corner  of  her  apron  shot 
away  as  she  passed  through  the  school-room.  Still, 
notwithstanding  this  state  of  things,  the  good  nuns 
have  worked  without  ceasing  for  the  comfort  of 
those  who  fled  to  them  and  those  to  whom  they 
could  send  aid.  Monseigneur  de  Laval,  and  Mon- 
seigneur  de  St.  Vallier,  the  new  bishop,  have  been 
tireless,  going  about  helping  the  people  and  encour- 
aging them  by  their  own  fearlessness." 

After  a  dinner  at  home,  the  first  good  meal  I  had 
had  for  some  days,  and  having  taken  a  short  sleep,  I 
returned  to  the  battery  whereat  I  was  stationed. 

Next  day,  our  forces,  under  Frontenac  himself, 
attacked  the  invaders,  who  with  great  bravery  had 
again  effected  a  landing  at  Beauport  The  victory 
was  ours;  but  alas,  'twas  dearly  bought,  for  in  the 
skirmish  we  lost  the  peerless  Sainte-Helene,  the  most 
gallant  officer  of  the  famous  regiment  of  Carignan- 
Sallieres. 

Once  more  were  the  besiegers  driven  back  to  their 
ships.  They  had  suffered  from  the  unusual  cold  of 
the  season,  from  the  storm  of  wind  and  rain ;  and 
some  of  the  troops  were  sickening  with  the  small- 
pox, as  we  heard  later. 

Despite  the  success  of  our  sally,  Canada  remained 
with  her  fate  in  the  balance  for  several  days  longer. 

But  the  elements  were  with  us,  the  storm  con- 
tinued; then,  one  morning,  the  clouds  rolled  away, 
the  golden  October  sunlight  shone  upon  the  swift 
waters  of  the  St.  Lawrence,  and  glinted  the  towers 


THE   BUCCANEER'S   SIEGE  77 

and  belfries  of  Quebec ;  and  Sir  Phipps,  with  this 
dazzling  picture  before  him  of  the  good  town  which 
had  so  sturdily  resisted  his  assault,  weighed  anchor, 
and  disappeared  with  his  fleet  behind  the  Isle  of 
Orleans. 

At  this  spectacle  our  people  —  citizens,  noblesse, 
habitans,  and  soldiery  —  were  wild  with  joy,  and  a 
great  Te  Deum  was  sung  because  of  our  deliverance. 


CHAPTER  SEVENTH 

OUR  ENGLISH   DEMOISELLE 

BECAUSE  I  possessed  some  knowledge  of  the 
woods,  I  was  made  one  of  a  reconnoitring 
party  sent  out  to  keep  watch  of  the  southern  frigates. 
When  we  came  upon  them,  some  four  leagues 
down  the  river,  how  merry  our  young  men  made 
as  they  sighted  the  doughty  Admiral  on  a  scaf- 
fold at  the  side  of  his  ship,  plying  his  old  trade  of 
ship's  carpenter  in  repairing  the  damage  our  guns 
had  effected.  There  seemed  to  me,  however,  some- 
thing of  folly  in  these  jests ;  but  in  New  France  an 
officer  would  rather  die  than  work  with  his  hands, 
lest  he  lose  dignity  or  consideration  thereby. 

On  our  return  from  this  expedition  we  learned 
that  Sir  Phipps  had  sent  another  message,  and  of  a 
different  stamp,  to  Comte  Frontenac,  and  on  that  very 
day  all  the  English  in  Quebec  were  to  be  exchanged 
for  a  band  of  French  prisoners  taken  in  former 
campaigns. 

I  went  at  once,  therefore,  and  made  my  adieux  to 
Mr.  Davis,  a  brave  Bostonnais  who,  having  been  given 
his  parole  at  the  beginning  of  his  captivity,  had  lived 
at  the  Chateau  as  the  guest  of  the  Governor,  and  was 
regarded  by  all  as  a  "bon  homme."  When  at  length 
I  reached  our  house,  little  Barbe  had  much  to  tell 
me. 

"  Welcome,  Normand  !  "  she  cried  blithely,  and  for 
a  wonder  did  not  beat  me  off  when  I  essayed  to 


OUR   ENGLISH    DEMOISELLE  79 

touch  with  my  lips  her  smooth  cheek,  now  no  longer 
pale  as  when  I  had  seen  her  during  the  siege,  but 
glowing  with  its  wonted  color.  When,  however,  I 
would  have  stolen  a  kiss  from  her  rosy  mouth  as 
well,  she  pushed  me  away,  saying  with  a  grand  air 
that  was  truly  laughable,  "  Have  a  care,  sir,"  and 
drew  herself  up  to  her  full  height,  whereat  she  did 
look  taller  by  a  good  inch. 

But  her  childish  anger  was  short-lived,  since  if  she 
kept  up  the  quarrel  with  me  she  must  forego  the 
retailing  of  her  news. 

"A  truce  to  this  nonsense,  cousin,"  she  resumed 
presently.  "  I  am  between  two  minds,  not  know- 
ing whether  to  be  glad  or  sad.  At  the  Ursulines  I 
have  grown  to  love  well  the  two  young  Bostonnaise, 
the  Demoiselles  Clarke  whom  our  Governor  Frontenac 
ransomed  from  the  Indians  after  the  battle  of  Casco 
Bay,  their  father,  a  lieutenant,  having  then  met  his 
end.  Much  have  these  sweet  demoiselles  told  me  of 
the  horrors  of  their  captivity  among  the  savages,  and 
never  did  they  tire  of  extolling  the  kindness  of  his 
Excellency  in  having  freed  and  placed  them  at  the 
convent.  But  now  they  are  to  be  exchanged  for 
French  soldiers,  and,  although  I  rejoice  for  the  sake 
of  our  poor  fellows,  I  shall  miss  my  friends  most 
grievously.  Then,  too,  there  is  the  little  Sarah  Ger- 
rish,  whom  Madame  de  Champigny  bought  from  the 
red  men  and  sent  to  live  at  the  H6tel  Dieu,  —  a  pretty 
maid,  frolicsome  as  a  kitten.  So  fond  is  she  of  the 
hospital  sisters,  that  when  told  she  must  needs  leave 
them  and  sail  away  in  the  ship  of  the  English  Ad- 
miral, she  vowed  with  a  torrent  of  tears  that  she 
would  not  go.  They  are  indeed  loath  to  part  with 
her,  but  it  is  right  that  she  should  be  sent  back  to 
her  own  people." 


80      A   DAUGHTER   OF  NEW   FRANCE 

Thus  our  winsome  Barbe  rattled  on  with  naive 
ardor. 

While  she  spoke,  I  was  conscious  of  a  strange 
thrill  at  my  heart,  and  then  there  swept  over  me  a 
chill,  like  to  that  which  comes  upon  a  man  shot 
down  in  battle  or  one  who  in  a  duel  succumbs  to  a 
dangerous  thrust  of  his  antagonist's  sword. 

For  in  a  trice  there  came  to  me  the  recollection  of 
that  whereof  we  had  taken  no  heed  during  the  siege, 
and  which  indeed  had  passed  out  of  our  thoughts  as 
if  it  had  never  been,  —  the  remembrance  of  the  day 
whereon  I,  a  prankish  boy,  had  first  beheld  pretty 
Barbe,  a  tiny  child  of  scarce  two  springtimes,  —  pretty 
Barbe,  a  soft,  warm,  smiling  little  creature,  her 
chubby  face  pink-tinted  like  the  sweet  arbutus  or 
May  blossom  of  our  Canadian  woods ;  her  fair  curls 
tossed  and  tangled  ;  her  dimpled  hands  outstretched 
to  my  aunt  Guyon  from  the  detaining  arms  of  the 
dark-visaged  Indian  chief  who  had  brought  the 
white  baby  captive  from  afar  through  the  woods  to 
Beauport,  to  barter  her  for  a  draught  of  French 
brandy. 

Had  the  infant  prisoner  been  a  boy,  doubtless  it 
would  have  been  reared  to  savagery  and  would  per- 
chance have  become  sachem  of  a  tribe  destined  to 
war  with  relentless  cruelty  against  his  .pale-faced 
brothers. 

But  a  squaw  pappoose  —  of  what  avail  to  rescue  it 
from  having  its  brains  beaten  out  against  a  tree,  save 
to  buy  with  the  frisky  squirrel-like  being  a  cup  of 
the  maddening  fire-water  of  the  coureurs  de  bois? 

Yes,  I  had  chanced  to  be  there  in  the  living-room 
of  my  uncle's  house  at  Beauport  when  the  strange 
bargain  was  made,  and  my  aunt  sent  two  Panis, 
servant  men,  to  conduct  the  Indian  beyond  the  settle- 


OUR   ENGLISH    DEMOISELLE  81 

ment  ere  they  delivered  to  him  the  flagon  of  liquor, 
upon  the  pretence  that  were  he  to  drink  among  the 
dwellings  of  the  pale-faces,  he  would  become  less 
brave  in  battle.  I  remembered  that  when  the  savage 
set  down  the  child  upon  the  hearthstone,  she  clung  to 
the  skirts  of  my  aunt,  and  how,  when  the  redskin 
was  gone  and  la  mere  Guyon  took  upon  her  knees 
the  fairy  wight  that,  like  a  snowflake  borne  upon 
the  wind,  had  been  brought  to  her  threshold,  the 
little  waif  nestled  with  winning  confidence  against 
her  heart ;  and  they  loved  each  other  as  mother  and 
daughter  from  that  hour. 

I  remembered  too  how,  rough  lad  though  I  was,  I 
knelt  beside  my  aunt  and  stroked  the  child's  sunny 
hair  with  awkward  gentleness,  marvelling  at  its  soft- 
ness, and  at  the  whiteness  of  her  skin,  and  the  beauty 
of  her  eyes  that  were  like  two  purple  violets. 

And  I  recall  the  scene  when  my  uncle  Guyon  came 
in  from  his  ship  at  the  wharf  and  found  the  fairy  still 
enthroned  upon  Dame  Guyon's  knee's,  at  the  head  of 
the  bounteous  board  about  which  were  gathered  his 
own  numerous  family;  when,  having  heard  the  tale, 
he  clapped  his  thigh  and  declared  his  good  wife  had 
done  well  to  keep  the  child,  and  a  dainty  demoiselle 
she  was.  And  my  aunt  Guyon  said  that  though  the 
little  creature's  garments  were  sadly  begrimed  and 
torn,  from  the  fineness  of  their  texture  she  must  be 
well  born.  Thereupon  they  decided  that  they  would 
rear  her  as  their  own,  and  she  should  be  to  them 
another  daughter. 

They  questioned  her,  hoping  to  glean  a  clue  to  her 
history,  for  they  knew  from  her  complexion  and  the 
few  lisping  words  that  fell  from  her  lips  that  she  was 
English.  But,  ready  as  she  was  with  baby  prattle, 
when  asked  her  name  she  only  shook  her  head  and 
6 


82      A    DAUGHTER   OF   NEW    FRANCE 

laughed  roguishly.  Therefore  they  called  her  Barbe, 
after  a  child  of  their  own  who  had  died ;  also  be- 
cause in  the  old  French  tongue  Barbe  means  a  pearl 
brought  from  afar.  For  notwithstanding  that  they 
had  already  many  children,  these  worthy  folk,  my 
uncle  and  aunt  Guyon,  looked  upon  this  nameless 
baby  stranger,  English  though  she  was,  as  a  pearl 
of  great  price  sent  to  them  by  Providence,  an  addi- 
tion to  their  worldly  possessions  to  be  treasured 
and  cherished. 

And  as  gold  put  out  at  interest  grows  and  in- 
creases, so  during  all  these  years  had  their  generosity 
to  Barbe  been  enriched  by  her  love  and  filial  devo- 
tion. Ever  too  she  bore  their  name,  and  it  was  under- 
stood, as  a  matter  of  course,  that  she  was  to  share 
alike  with  the  others  in  the  inheritance  my  uncle 
Guyon  would  leave  to  his  children.  Thus  it  was 
that  we  had  long  ceased  to  think  of  the  fair-haired, 
violet-eyed  lass  save  as  belonging  to  this  swarthy 
brood ;  for  is  there  not  sometimes  seen  a  paler  and 
a  darker  rose  growing  upon  one  stem?  But  Barbe 
was  English,  and  it  was  the  realization  of  the  fact, 
now  to  us  so  momentous,  that  raised  so  strange 
a  tumult  within  my  breast, — one  moment  a  flame 
which  would  break  forth;  the  next,  like  ice  in  my 
veins.  I  had  never  experienced  the  like  before,  nor 
did  I  again  for  many  a  day,  —  not  until  —  But  that 
comes  later  in  my  story. 

When  she  paused  for  breath,  I  said,  striving  to 
speak  quietly,  yet  in  the  saying  feeling  a  strange 
tightening  at  my  throat,  — 

"And  you,  Barbe?" 

"  And  I?  "  she  repeated  wonderingly. 

"  Yes ;   are  you  not  also  of  these  people?  " 

Scarce   had  the  words  passed  my  lips   ere  I   re- 


OUR   ENGLISH   DEMOISELLE  83 

gretted  them,  for  the  girl  recoiled  as  though  I  had  in 
savage  cruelty  dealt  her  a  blow.  The  next  moment, 
however,  with  crimsoned  cheek  and  flashing  eyes, 
she  turned  upon  me. 

"  Normand,  how  dare  you  ?  "  she  cried  passionately. 
"What  have  I  done  that  you  should  doubt  my  loyalty? 
Why  do  you  reproach  me  thus  and  accuse  me  of 
siding  with  our  enemies,  because,  forsooth,  I  have 
shown  a  sympathy  for  these  poor  demoiselles  cast, 
as  by  the  sea,  upon  an  alien  shore ;  because  I  am 
glad,  now  when  the  tide  bids  fair  to  waft  them  home 
again?  For  shame!  Where  is  your  generosity?  You 
are  unjust;  you  would  have  me  hate  every  living 
thing  south  of  the  French  border;  but  —  but  —  I 
can  not  forget  that  God  rules  over  the  southern  land 
as  well  as  over  New  France,  that  in  those  distant 
provinces  are  living  wives,  mothers,  daughters,  who 
watch  and  weep  and  pray  for  their  soldier  heroes, 
even  as  we  do  daily  here  at  home." 

The  unconscious  eloquence  of  the  young  maid 
moved  me  deeply;  but  I  reflected,  with  a  touch  of 
bitterness,  it  was  only  natural  she  should  feel  thus ; 
'twas  the  stirring  of  her  English  blood,  the  instinct 
of  kindred,  stronger  than  any  tie  of  love,  or  circum- 
stance, or  fortune. 

She  could  not  help  it,  dear  child.  As  the  birds  of 
the  south  that  have  nested  in  our  orchards  fly  home 
again  presently  to  a  sunnier  clime,  so  the  voice  of 
nature  was  bidding  the  heart  of  little  Barbe  to  spread 
its  wings  and  take  flight  for  the  land  of  her  birth. 
Was  it  for  us  to  reproach  or  blame? 

I  could  not  endure  to  have  her  misjudge  me  as 
she  had  done.  For  in  her  flashing  eyes,  and  the 
indignation  wherewith  she  confronted  me,  there  was 
nothing  of  the  pretty  petulance  of  old,  whereat  I  had 


84      A   DAUGHTER   OF   NEW   FRANCE 

so  often  found  amusement,  but  rather  a  depth  of 
feeling  and  a  fire  which  made  me  understand  that 
our  demoiselle  was  no  longer  a  child,  but  was  fast 
growing  into  a  noble  woman.  And  never  to  me  had 
she  appeared  so  comely. 

So  I  said  gravely,  and  with  as  much  gentleness  of 
manner  as  I  could  command, — 

"Not  so  fast,  Babette!  And,  I  pray  you,  be  more 
sparing  of  your  upbraiding,  lest  you  may  regret  it 
later.  I  had  no  thought  to  question  your  devotion 
to  our  cause;  I  only  gave  utterance  to  the  truth 
which,  albeit  unwelcome,  was  brought  forcibly  to 
my  mind  by  your  chatter  of  the  demoiselles  your 
schoolmates.  You  too  are  a  Bostonnaise." 

"  And  for  this  reason  have  you  come  to  hate  me, 
Normand?"  she  faltered  tremulously;  "  have  the  mad 
fury  of  the  conflict,  the  anxiety  of  these  days  of 
siege,  crazed  your  brain  and  turned  you  against 
even  poor  little  Barbe?" 

"  No !  A  thousand  times,  no !  But,  my  God, 
Barbe,"  I  broke  out,  pressed  beyond  all  patience, 
"  your  friends  are  overjoyed  at  the  opportunity  of 
being  taken  home ;  what  more  natural  than  that  you 
should  wish  to  go  with  them?" 

"Ha,  ha,  ha!  Is  that  all?"  cried  Barbe,  with 
merry  laugh.  "  So  you  thought  to  see  the  last  of 
me,  sir?  Never  fear,  cousin,"  —  here  the  tremor  in 
her  voice  moved  me  as  does  the  sound  of  gay  music 
that  yet  has  in  it  a  plaintive  note,  —  "never  fear. 
Mayhap  my  parents  whom  I  never  knew,  lived  and 
married  in  New  England,  and  I  first  saw  the  light  in 
that  far-away  province  which  our  Sieur  Cadillac  and 
you  too,  Normand,  have  told  me  of  as  fair.  But  it 
is  God  who  gives  to  every  one  a  country  and  a  home. 
His  providence  has  made  me  French;  my  heart 


OUR   ENGLISH   DEMOISELLE  85 

was  in  the  defence  of  Quebec.  Nevertheless,  I  must 
own,  the  miseries  of  the  siege  were  increased  tenfold 
in  my  eyes  because  it  was  to  me  a  struggle  of 
brother  against  brother.  But,  for  the  rest,  your 
people  are  my  people,  Normand,  and  for  all  my  life 
I  want  no  other  home  than  New  France." 

Thereat  she  stretched  out  her  pretty  hands  to  me 
with  so  appealing  and  artless  a  grace  that  I  took 
them  in  my  own  and  raised  them  to  my  lips  in 
cavalier  fashion,  but  with  brotherly  tenderness. 

A  weight  was  lifted  off  my  spirits  as  she  spoke  the 
frank,  ingenuous  words  which  told  me  in  effect  that 
never,  even  in  her  young  girl's  dreams,  had  she 
longed  for  the  land  of  the  south;  while  at  her 
assurance,  '  your  people  are  my  people,'  I  felt  an 
unwonted  happiness,  which  was  not  the  security  of 
a  hope  fulfilled,  but  rather  like  a  voice  bidding  me 
strive  and  pray  for,  and  hold  aloof  from  all  un- 
worthiness,  if  one  day  I  would  aspire  to  win  per- 
chance a  noble  and  true-hearted  maiden  to  cast  her 
fortune  with  mine  in  wedded  love  with  those  self- 
same words  that  little  Barbe  had  chosen  in  her 
childlike  unconsciousness. 

But  still,  in  spite  of  her  loyalty  to  us,  a  danger, 
like  a  shadow  fallen  athwart  the  threshold,  threat- 
ened gloom  to  the  house,  —  a  shadow  that  even 
the  sunlight  of  this  perfect  day  of  the  Indian 
summer  could  not  banish.  Therefore  I  answered 
with  emotion, — 

"  God  be  thanked,  you  are,  I  believe,  little  one,  as 
true  a  daughter  of  New  France  as  any  demoiselle  in 
the  land."  And  then  I  went  on,  choosing  my 
language  so  as  not  to  affright  her  too  greatly. 
"  Nevertheless,  among  the  Bostonnais  prisoners  to  be 
exchanged  there  are  those  who  know  your  story, 


86      A    DAUGHTER    OF    NEW  FRANCE 

and  mayhap  the  English  may  demand  that  you  be 
given  up." 

At  this  she  uttered  a  shriek  of  dismay,  and,  un- 
heeding my  efforts  to  calm  her,  broke  away  from 
me  and  rushed  from  the  little  parlor  where  I  had 
found  her  dusting  with  a  brush  of  rabbit's  fur  the 
wood  of  the  new  chairs  and  tables  my  father  had  got 
over  in  the  last  ship  from  France.  In  the  living- 
room  beyond,  my  aunt  Guyon,  with  my  mother 
and  Madame  Cadillac,  were  engaged  with  their 
needlework. 

To  them  Barbe  ran,  and  in  a  passion  of  weeping 
threw  herself  upon  the  neck  of  my  aunt,  and  sobbed 
out  what  I  had  told  her,  begging  piteously  to  be 
hidden  away  until  the  southerners  should  be  gone. 
Her  intelligence  created  consternation  among  the 
women. 

Scarce  had  they  recovered  from  their  first  alarm 
and  begun  more  quietly  to  devise  feminine  plans 
against  the  contingency,  when,  sure  enough,  there 
came  an  imperative  "  rat-ta-tat "  at  the  house  door. 
Anticipating  what  the  knock  might  forebode,  I  went 
down  the  stairs  and  opened  the  door.  It  was  as  I 
feared.  Without,  waited  a  posse  of  the  Governor's 
body-guard  and  with  them  the  English  officer  to 
whose  charge  had  been  committed  the  exchange  of 
prisoners  and  the  business  of  effecting  the  return  of 
the  demoiselles  to  their  native  province. 

It  was  the  same  young  Bostonnais  who  had  come 
with  the  message  to  which  we  had  returned  so 
effective  an  answer ;  verily  Sir  Phipps  had  been  more 
courteous  toward  him  had  he  intrusted  this  affair 
of  the  exchange  to  another;  but  the  doughty 
Admiral  had  no  such  delicacy,  and  to  Monsieur  de 
Frontenac  it  mattered  not.  The  officer  was  indeed 


OUR   ENGLISH    DEMOISELLE  87 

of  good  appearance,  with  the  manners  and  bearing  of 
a  gentleman.  Moreover,  his  scarlet  coat  and  cap 
with  its  band  of  gold  became  him  mightily. 

Noting  that  I  wore  the  uniform  of  the  King's 
troops,  he  gave  me  a  military  salute. 

"  Sir,"  he  said,  "  I  am  come  to  demand  of  one 
Francois  Guyon  that  he  deliver  up  for  safe  convoy  to 
her  kindred  the  young  maiden  called  Barbara  Guyon, 
but  known  to  be  of  English  parentage.  I  have  here 
a  command  from  Comte  Frontenac  that  she  shall  be 
permitted  to  receive  from  me  the  message." 

At  this,  one  of  the  guards  stepped  forward  and 
showed  to  me  a  paper  duly  signed  by  the  Governor's 
own  hand. 

How  angered  I  was ;  how  I  cursed  the  Bostonnais 
for  his  audacity !  Yet  soberer  thought  reminded  me 
he  was  but  engaged  in  the  performance  of  his  duty. 
Accordingly,  with  an  effort  to  restrain  my  choler,  I 
replied,  — 

"  Sir,  an  you  wish  to  find  Francois  Guyon,  you 
must  seek  him  in  his  home,  or  on  his  wharves  at 
Beauport.  As  for  the  demoiselle  of  whom  you 
speak,  she  is  indeed  in  this  dwelling.  If  you  will 
enter,  and  wait  in  this  room  for  a  brief  space,  I  will 
carry  to  her  your  message  and  bring  you  her  answer 
to  it  with  but  short  delay." 

Therewith  I  ushered  him  up  the  stairs  and  into 
the  little  parlor,  the  soldiers  remaining  outside. 

"  Pardon,  sir,"  he  said,  as  I  was  about  to  leave 
him,  "I  can  accept  no  communication  by  proxy; 
I  must  needs  see  the  maiden  and  have  speech  with 
her." 

I  would  have  liked  to  run  him  through  with  my 
sword  for  his  impudence.  Nevertheless,  with  as  good 
an  imitation  of  the  polished  complaisance  of  our 


88      A   DAUGHTER   OF   NEW   FRANCE 

Sieur  Cadillac  as  I  could  master  upon  such  short 
notice  and  under  such  stress  of  circumstance,  I  went 
in  search  of  Barbe,  since  she  could  have  no  choice 
but  to  receive  him.  When  I  returned  to  the  living- 
room,  the  women  were  again  weeping,  and  more 
readily  would  I  have  fought  all  the  fleet  of  Sir 
Phipps  than  face  these  tearful  ladies  with  my 
news. 

"  No,  no !  Not  a  step  will  I  take  to  greet  this 
officer,"  declared  Mam'selle  Barbe,  with  a  determined 
stamp  of  her  foot.  "What?  I  must  see  and  speak 
with  him,  you  say,  Cousin  Normand?  Did  ever  any 
one  hear  the  like  !  How  could  you,  how  could  even 
his  Excellency  the  Governor,  constrain  me  to  do  so? 
If  my  Lord  Frontenac  should  so  far  put  aside  his 
regal  courtesy,  —  and  the  event  is  scarce  possible,  — 
but  even  if  he  should  send  his  soldiers  to  drag  me  into 
yonder  audience  room  against  my  will,  yet  could  I 
not  keep  my  eyes  closed  fast?  Why,  the  King  and 
all  his  ministers  could  not  compel  me  to  see  this 
envoy,  if  I  chose  otherwise.  As  for  speaking  with 
him,  who,  pray,  could  force  me  to  say  a  word,  if  I 
wished  to  remain  dumb?" 

Thinking  it  wiser  to  fall  in  with  the  humor  of  the 
lively  lass,  I  said,  forcing  a  laugh :  "  Dearest  Barbe, 
your  independent  spirit  is  much  to  be  admired,  and  I 
commend  your  taste  in  not  wishing  to  bestow  as  much 
as  a  glance  upon  this  Englishman,  albeit  some  foolish 
demoiselles  might  consider  him  pleasing  of  aspect 
and  agreeable  in  conversation.  Nevertheless,  if  you 
do  not  yourself  tell  this  envoy  you  are  resolved  to 
remain  in  New  France,  he  will  report  that  my  uncle 
and  aunt  Guyon  have  detained  you  by  compulsion. 
Moreover,  if  you  show  not  alacrity  to  obey  the  be- 
hest of  the  Governor  and  receive  him,  you  may  as 


OUR   ENGLISH    DEMOISELLE  89 

well  pack  your  boxes  for  Boston  forthwith,  for  his 
Excellency  will  not  brook  the  least  opposition  to  his 
orders,  as  many  a  powerful  man  in  the  province 
knows  full  well." 

Whether  little  Barbe  understood  the  folly  of  re- 
sistance and  was  affrighted  at  my  threat  of  the 
Governor's  displeasure,  or  whether  it  was  that  her 
woman's  curiosity  was  piqued  by  my  description  of 
the  foreign  officer,  I  can  not  say,  so  incomprehensible 
are  the  reasonings  of  a  young  maid.  Scarce  had  I 
ceased  my  argument,  when  her  mood  changed,  al- 
though she  was  not  wont  to  pay  such  respect  to  my 
powers  of  persuasion. 

"  Well,  well,  cousin,  an  you  think  best,  I  will  even 
see  and  speak  to  this  stranger,"  she  said  with  a  most 
captivating  air  of  docility,  — the  little  minx  ! 

Thereupon  I  conducted  her  into  the  parlor.  The 
officer  rose  from  his  chair  as  we  entered  and  made 
Barbe  a  profound  bow,  —  he  was  clearly  a  man  of 
breeding.  As  for  our  little  maid,  she  truly  astonished 
me.  The  curtsy  she  swept  him  did  honor  to  the 
training  in  manners  she  had  received  from  her 
teachers  the  Ursulines,  and  her  mien  was  so  dignified 
and  withal  so  modest  that  I  thought  she  had  never 
appeared  to  so  good  advantage. 

The  Englishman  was  surprised,  I  perceived,  and 
in  some  degree  disconcerted,  at  finding  himself  con- 
fronted by  so  stately  a  demoiselle,  when  he  had 
expected  to  behold  a  schoolgirl.  Barbe  was  scarce 
older  than  her  friends  the  Demoiselles  Clarke,  but 
my  aunt  Guyon  and  Madame  Cadillac  had  pinned 
up  her  hair  and  cast  about  her  shoulders  a  lace  ker- 
chief, and  thus,  as  by  a  fairy  wand,  transformed  her 
for  the  occasion  from  a  comely  little  lass  into  a 
charming  young  woman.  For  although  she  was 


9o      A   DAUGHTER   OF   NEW   FRANCE 

paler  than  her  wont,  the  tears  that  still  gleamed  in 
her  eyes  gave  to  her  face  a  pathetic  beauty. 

"  I  crave  your  pardon,  young  mistress,"  said  the 
Englishman,  "in  that  I  have  come  to  you  upon  a 
distressful  errand.  You  have  been  made  acquainted 
with  its  nature?  " 

She  inclined  her  head. 

"  Then  I  will  spare  you  the  rehearsal  of  formal- 
ities. Suffice  to  say,  in  accordance  with  the  arrange- 
ment between  my  Lord  Admiral  Sir  William  Phipps 
and  his  Excellency  Governor  Frontenac,  I  am  come 
to  bid  you,  an  English  maiden  cast  by  the  fortunes 
of  war  among  the  people  of  New  France,  to  make 
ready  to  return  to  your  kinsfolk  in  the  colonies 
of  his  Gracious  Majesty  the  King  of  England,  and 
to  tell  you  that  you  will  be  safely  convoyed  thither 
in  care  of  the  wife  of  one  of  the  exchanged  prisoners, 
by  the  British  fleet  under  the  command  of  the  Lord 
Admiral." 

Having  suffered  him  to  conclude  his  speech  with- 
out interruption, —  an  ordeal  for  her  impetuosity, — 
my  little  lady  now  involuntarily  vouchsafed  me  another 
surprise.  Instead  of  meeting  his  demand  with  the 
outburst  of  scorn  I  expected,  she  replied  with  demure 
self-possession.  For  one  too  who  had  averred  she 
would  keep  her  eyes  shut  rather  than  see  the  officer, 
it  seemed  to  me  she  glanced  at  him  oftener  than  was 
necessary,  and  even,  confound  his  soldier  luck,  gave 
him  a  smile  once  or  twice.  Her  answer,  neverthe- 
less, was  spoken  with  decision. 

"  Sir,"  she  said,  "  be  so  kind  as  to  convey  to  your 
Admiral  Sir  William  Phipps  my  thanks  for  his 
interest  in  my  welfare.  Say  to  him  in  addition, 
however,  that  although  I  may  be  the  child  of  Eng- 
lish parents,  Providence  has  made  me  a  daughter 


OUR    ENGLISH   DEMOISELLE 


91 


of  New  France  and  a  subject  of  his  August  Majesty 
King  Louis  the  Fourteenth.  I  desire  neither  to 
change  my  country  nor  my  allegiance." 

The  Bostonnais  was  not  so  easily  to  be  dismissed. 

"  Fair  mistress,"  he  replied  with  another  bow,  and 
a  look  of  admiration  for  which,  respectful  as  it  was,  I 
could  have  throttled  him, — "Fair  mistress,  your 
speech  does  honor  to  the  steadfast  nature  which 
bespeaks  you  to  be  indeed  of  the  English  race. 
King  Louis  might  well  be  loath  to  lose,  and  his 
Majesty  of  England  account  it  well  to  gain,  so  loyal 
a  subject.  It  is  only  natural  that  one  brought  up 
from  childhood  in  this  region  of  the  maple  and  the 
fir  should  regret  to  leave  so  beautiful  a  land.  But 
we  have  a  saying,  '  Once  an  Englishman  always  an 
Englishman,'  and  it  is  the  same,  I  see,  with  the  gentler 
sex.  A  little  English  baby  girl  will  grow  up  into  a 
lovely  Englishwoman,  no  matter  in  what  part  of  the 
world  she  may  be  reared.  You  can  no  more  deny 
your  nationality,  my  fair  young  lady,  than  you  can 
help  the  color  of  your  hair  and  eyes." 

Where  had  the  fellow  learned  his  trick  of  com- 
pliment? I  had  not  thought,  out  of  the  lands  of  the 
Sun  King,  there  was  so  much  politeness  and  grace 
of  speech.  Nathless  it  pleased  me  little  enough, 
because  Mademoiselle  Barbe  took  all  his  fine  say- 
ings with  the  utmost  complaisance. 

"  Oh,  it  is  not  altogether  a  matter  of  allegiance," 
she  began,  "but  —  why,  all  that  I  love  is  here." 

"  Ah,  yes,  the  ties  of  affection,"  he  responded,  as 
though  with  a  sympathetic  understanding.  "  Yet 
you  will  be  happy  in  the  prospect  of  a  reunion 
with  your  kindred.  And  then  there  will  be  the 
charm  of  seeing  a  new  country,  and  visiting  the 
settlements  of  the  south,  —  not  only  Boston,  but  per- 


92      A   DAUGHTER   OF   NEW   FRANCE 

chance  the  fine  town  of  New  York.  Will  you  not 
be  seated?  At  least  it  will  not  come  amiss  to  you 
to  hear  something  in  regard  to  the  country  of  your 
birth." 

Fascinated  for  the  nonce,  Barbe  sank  down  upon 
a  chair,  and  dropping  into  another  beside  her,  he 
discoursed  long,  both  of  the  natural  beauties  and  the 
many  attractions  of  the  province  south  of  us,  while  I 
sat  sulking  and  fuming  in  a  corner,  thinking  that 
any  moment  Madame  Cadillac  would  come  sweeping 
into  the  room,  or  my  aunt  Guyon  would  make  her 
appearance,  so  eager  were  they,  I  knew,  for  him  to 
be  gone. 

At  last,  taking  out  his  watch,  —  I  had  thought 
when  he  came  to  ask  the  surrender  he  had  been 
taught  a  lesson  in  that  respect;  but  no,  these  Eng- 
lishmen must  needs  measure  off  the  time  as  though 
they  were  arbiters  of  fate ;  so,  looking  at  his  watch, 
the  Bostonnais  started  up,  saying,  — 

"  Excuse  me,  fair  mistress,  your  courteous  atten- 
tion has  led  me  to  forget  that  our  time  ashore  is 
short.  If  I  wait  upon  you  again  within  an  hour,  will 
you  be  ready  to  set  off  with  our  little  company;  or 
is  it  your  preference  to  join  us  at  the  point  of  em- 
barkation on  the  Esplanade?" 

Within  an  hour !  Flattered  by  his  pretty  speeches 
and  smooth  arguments,  eager  to  gaze  upon  the 
scenes  which  she  had  now  heard  described  with  the 
enthusiasm  of  one  who  loved  them  well,  would 
Barbe,  hoping  no  doubt  to  come  back  to  us  some 
day,  —  would  Barbe  go,  after  all? 

I  sprang  to  my  feet,  determined  to  remind  her  of 
the  resolution  she  had  so  recently  formed,  —  to  hold 
her  to  it,  —  to  fight  this  man,  if  necessary,  envoy 
though  he  was,  and  even  at  the  risk  of  expiating  the 


OUR   ENGLISH    DEMOISELLE  93 

offence  in  the  donjon  of  the  Chateau.  And  then, 
with  a  sinking  of  the  heart,  I  realized  how  futile  all 
this  would  be.  No,  the  issue  depended  upon  Barbe 
alone ;  her  word  must  decide  it. 

"  Shall  I  be  ready  within  an  hour  ?  "  she  repeated, 
rising  too,  and  smiling  archly.  "  In  faith,  no,  good 
sir,  nor  within  a  lifetime.  Look  you  ;  although  your 
country  may  be  the  land  of  my  birth,  I  should  be  in 
it  an  alien  and  a  stranger." 

"  Believe  me,  we  should  find  your  kindred ;  there 
must  be  some  clue  to  be  followed  up,"  he  urged. 

"  My  true  kindred  are  here,"  returned  the  girl 
firmly,  glancing  round  the  small  parlor  as  though  it 
formed  the  horizon  of  her  happiness.  "A  more 
loving  mother,  a  more  indulgent  father,  than  Pere 
and  Mere  Guyon,  I  could  not  have  had." 

"  But  your  real  father  was  an  officer,  it  is  surmised, 
—  there  may  be  awaiting  you  in  England  some  golden 
inheritance,  —  in  these  times  many  such  revert  to  the 
crown,  the  heirs  having  disappeared  in  the  wilderness 
of  the  New  World." 

"  God's  providence  is  my  inheritance,"  she  re- 
sponded gravely;  "He  has  provided  for  me  amply 
and  well." 

"  My  dear  young  lady,"  exclaimed  the  Bostonnais 
officer,  at  last  losing  patience.  "  Comte  Frontenac 
has  given  his  word  that  every  British  subject  within 
the  walls  of  Quebec  shall  be  delivered  over  to  my 
Lord  Admiral  Sir  William  Phipps.  A  British  sub- 
ject you  are,  whether  you  will  or  not,  therefore  you 
must  go." 

"  Must  go !  "  cried  Barbe,  with  a  flash  of  anger 
which,  whether  it  were  French  or  English,  disturbed 
the  lieutenant  mightily. 

"  Yes,  or  the  Admiral  will  renew  hostilities." 


94      A   DAUGHTER   OF   NEW    FRANCE 

A  scornful  laugh  broke  from  the  lips  of  our  spirited 
demoiselle,  but  with  a  discretion  beyond  her  years 
she  checked  the  retort  that  would  have  followed  it. 

"  I  will  go  to  Comte  Frontenac,"  she  said  simply, 
turning  toward  me.  "  Normand,  take  me  to  him." 

And  conduct  her  to  the  Chateau  I  did,  the  envoy 
and  his  escort  following  some  hundred  paces  behind, 
not  obtruding  upon  us,  yet  keeping  us  in  view  lest 
perchance  Barbe's  friends  might  spirit  her  away  and 
place  her  in  hiding. 

Of  her  interview  with  the  Governor,  the  recollec- 
tion will  never  fade  from  my  memory.  As  I  write, 
there  arises  before  the  eyes  of  my  mind  the  picture 
of  the  Castle's  audience  chamber,  its  wainscot  and 
rafters  of  cedar  wood,  its  background  of  the  skins  of 
wild  beasts,  and  tapestries  and  rich  paintings  from 
France. 

In  his  carved  chair  which  he  had  just  pushed  back 
from  his  writing-table,  sat  Comte  Frontenac,  his 
noble  head  thrown  back  in  surprise,  the  stern  and 
imperious  expression  of  countenance  habitual  to  him 
now  softened  to  a  look  of  almost  fatherly  gentleness, 
as  he  listened  to  the  appeal  of  the  young  girl  who  had 
fearlessly  demanded  admittance  to  his  presence. 

Never  shall  I  forget  how  Barbe  looked  as  she 
stood  there.  At  one  moment  her  eyes  filled  with  tears 
and  her  voice  trembled  with  emotion;  the  next  it 
thrilled  with  indignation  as  she  protested  that  of  her 
free  will  she  would  never  go  to  live  in  the  south. 
And  all  the  while  she  spoke  with  an  artlessness,  a 
maidenly  modesty,  yet  with  an  eloquence  that 
amazed  me. 

As  she  went  on,  with  a  naive  lack  of  self-con- 
sciousness, the  Governor  began  to  nod  his  head  in 
assent  to  what  she  said. 


OUR   ENGLISH    DEMOISELLE  95 

Finally,  turning  to  me,  who  had  played  the  part 
of  a  silent  witness,  he  bade  me  summon  his  orderly. 
When  the  latter  appeared,  Comte  Frontenac  asked 
if  the  Bostonnais  envoy  was  without. 

"  Yes,  your  Excellency,"  answered  the  aide,  "  and 
anxious  to  have  speech  with  you." 

"  I  will  receive  him." 

Forthwith  the  lieutenant  was  admitted. 

"  Monsieur,"  said  the  Governor,  addressing  him  as 
if  he  knew  not  his  errand,  —  "  Monsieur,  what  further 
business  brings  you  to  us?  " 

"  Your  Excellency,  "rejoined  the  envoy,  with  formal 
politeness,  "  among  the  English  children  in  Quebec 
to  be  exchanged  with  the  prisoners  of  war,  mention 
was  made  to  me  of  this  young  maiden  who  stands  at 
your  right  hand.  Her  name  was  on  the  list  of  those 
whom  you  authorized  me  to  escort  to  the  Admiral's 
ship,  where  preparations  have  been  made  for  their 
comfort  and  safe  conduct  to  Boston." 

"And?  "  queried  Comte  Frontenac,  dryly. 

"  Well,  she  will  not  go,  your  Excellency." 

"  Well  indeed,  then,  it  seems,"  said  the  Gover- 
nor, while  a  gleam  of  humor  shot  from  his  keen 
eye. 

"  Or  perhaps  ill,  your  Excellency,  since  the  conse- 
quences may  not  be  so  light  as  you  would  imply; 
also,  there  is  your  Excellency's  word  at  stake." 

"  Monsieur  lieutenant,"  said  Comte  Frontenac, 
rising  and  preparing  to  go  out,  for  it  was  the  hour 
when  he  was  wont  to  go  down  to  the  Palace  of  the 
Intendant  to  preside  over  the  doings  of  the  Council,  — 
"  Monsieur  lieutenant,"  he  repeated  in  a  tone  of  con- 
descending, half-jesting  irony,  "  I  promised  your 
chief,  Sir  William  Phipps,  to  do  everything  possible 
to  facilitate  the  return  to  their  homes  of  any  English 


96      A   DAUGHTER   OF   NEW   FRANCE 

who  might  be  found  in  this  province,  and  I  have  kept 
my  pledge.  But,  Lord  of  all  Canada  as  I  am,  and 
Supreme  Representative  of  King  Louis  in  the  Western 
World,  I  never  presumed  to  consider  it  within  my 
power  to  move  a  woman  from  her  will.  Nor  do  I 
think,  if  rumor  speaks  true  of  his  experience,  would 
your  valiant  Admiral  have  the  hardihood  to  attempt 
it.  If  this  demoiselle  wills  not  to  go,  she  will  not, 
and  there's  the  end  of  it." 

He  laughed  lightly,  and  then  continued  with 
gravity:  "In  all  seriousness,  although  I  would  let  it 
be  known  that  she  is  free  to  go  if  she  so  please,  the 
agreement  was  never  meant  to  cover  this  case.  The 
demoiselle  has  been  from  her  infancy  the  legally 
adopted  daughter  of  Frangois  Guyon  and  his  good 
wife.  Tell  your  Admiral  I  would  give  up  Quebec 
itself  rather  than  deliver  over  to  his  government, 
against  her  wish,  this  daughter  of  New  France. 
Moreover,  she  is  no  longer  a  child,  but  almost  a 
young  woman  of  marriageable  age,  and  she  has  de- 
clared it  to  be  her  intention  to  take  a  husband  in 
Quebec.  A  woman  may  marry  where  she  lists,  lieu- 
tenant, if  her  parents  select  not  otherwise  ;  and,  since 
she  becomes  by  law  of  the  nationality  of  her  spouse, 
I  must  say,  monsieur,  I  see  small  chance  of  your 
transforming  into  a  British  subject  this  most  wilful 
demoiselle." 

Thus,  with  a  polished  and  urbane  sarcasm,  he  dis- 
missed the  discomfited  envoy. 

As  the  latter  passed  Barbe  on  his  way  out,  how- 
ever, he  said  to  her  in  a  low  tone,  with  a  respectful 
obeisance:  "  Farewell,  sweet  mistress  ;  in  your  choice 
I  wish  you  all  content  and  happiness.  Nevertheless 
a  Bostonnaise  you  are,  and  a  Bostonnaise  you  will 
discover  yourself  to  be  some  day.  Perchance  that 


OUR   ENGLISH    DEMOISELLE  97 

day  lies  in  the  far  distant  future,  but  come  it  will. 
Farewell." 

For  answer,  Barbe  gave  him  an  incredulous  smile 
and  shook  her  pretty  head. 

"  Sir,  we  English  hope  to  make  you  another  visit 
in  the  spring,"  he  added  to  me. 

"  Monsieur,  I  trust  we  shall  have  the  honor  of 
meeting  you  before  that  time,"  I  answered  with  as 
significant  a  courtesy. 

When  he  was  gone,  the  girl,  too  overcome  with 
emotion  to  find  words  of  thanks  for  the  Governor, 
impulsively  caught  the  hand  of  Comte  Frontenac  and 
kissed  it. 

"  Remember,  mademoiselle,  you  are  to  take  a  hus- 
band in  Quebec,"  said  his  Excellency,  with  smiling 
graciousness. 

Thereupon  he  passed  out  of  the  audience  cham- 
ber, and  a  few  minutes  later,  as  we  went  forth  from 
the  old  Chateau,  we  saw  him,  accompanied  by  his 
military  escort,  crossing  the  Place  d'Armes,  on  his 
way  to  the  deliberations  of  the  Council. 


CHAPTER  EIGHTH 

FROM  THE  COURT  OF  THE  SUN  KING 

I  TROW  the  lordly  Sir  Phipps  swore  roundly  at  the 
report  the  officer  carried  back  to  him.  Still,  he 
had  clearly  no  mind  to  match  his  wit  against  that  of 
our  caustic  Governor,  in  a  wrangle  over  so  trifling  a 
matter  as  the  guardianship  of  a  saucy  demoiselle  who, 
despite  her  pretty  airs  and  graces,  had  but  anon 
passed  the  age  of  pinafores. 

With  as  proud  a  showing  as  might  be,  therefore,  in 
view  of  his  recent  disasters,  he  sailed  away  to  the 
south.  A  few  days  later,  so  close  upon  the  departure 
of  the  British  that  but  for  the  fogs  at  sea  they  must 
have  met,  the  King's  ship,  known  to  be  on  its  way 
from  France,  was  sighted  down  the  river. 

From  the  ramparts  and  the  Esplanade,  all  Quebec 
watched  her  with  rejoicing  as  she  came  up  the  broad 
expanse  of  the  stream ;  and  foremost  at  the  landing- 
place  were  Therese  and  myself,  since  we  had  reason 
to  hope  that  our  Sieur  would  be  one  of  the  Embus- 
cade's  half-score  of  passengers,  —  at  this  season  she 
was  not  like  to  bring  more. 

Happily,  we  were  not  disappointed,  for  he  was 
come  on  the  ship ;  and  never  did  he  appear  to  me 
more  distinguished  than  as  he  stepped  again  upon 
the  soil  of  New  France. 

He  was  habited  in  a  coat  of  azure,  broidered  with 
gold  and  full  plaited  around  the  waist,  with  crimson 
epaulettes  and  the  sleeves  turned  up  with  crimson ; 


FROM   COURT   OF   THE   SUN   KING    99 

also,  red  small  clothes  and  silk  stockings,  low-cut  shoes 
of  the  finest  leather,  and  a  gold  sword  belt,  this  being 
the  apparel  he  had  worn  upon  the  occasion  of  his 
presentation  to  the  Grand  Monarque.  And  verily 
there  seemed  to  linger  about  him  something  of  the 
atmosphere  of  grandeur  and  refinement  that  sur- 
rounds the  Court  of  the  Sun  King.  But  although 
he  appeared  even  handsomer  and  was  more  richly 
clothed  than  of  old,  the  heart  of  Cadillac  was  not 
changed,  as  I  noted  with  thankfulness. 

The  ship  had  anchored  in  mid-stream,  and  the 
passengers  were  sent  ashore  in  a  boat. 

Among  the  throng  waiting  to  greet  them,  I  saw  the 
gaze  of  De  la  Mothe  search  eagerly  for  the  face  of 
Therese,  and  when  he  set  foot  upon  the  ground  once 
more  and  she  pressed  forward  to  welcome  him  with 
their  child  in  her  arms,  he  clasped  her  to  his  breast 
and  kissed  her  with  a  respectful  affection  that  was 
good  to  see.  Then,  bending  his  head,  he  touched 
the  soft  cheek  of  baby  Madeleine  with  his  bearded 
lips,  whereat  the  little  creature  laughed,  and  clapped 
her  chubby  hands,  as  though  in  truth  she  remem- 
bered her  father,  albeit  that  was  impossible,  she  being 
only  a  young  infant  when  he  went  away. 

"  I  must  first  to  Comte  Frontenac,  Normand,  good 
friend,"  said  my  brother,  clasping*  my  hand.  "  Take 
my  wife  home,  and  then,  if  you  will,  follow  me  to  the 
Chateau." 

I  set  out  to  do  his  bidding  and  convoy  to  the 
house  madame  with  the  little  Madeleine,  and  Barbe, 
who  accompanied  them,  yet  I  was  vexed  by  the  fear 
that  ere  I  could  reach  the  Castle,  he  would  have 
entered,  and  I  must  perforce  remain  cooling  my  heels 
in  the  courtyard,  against  his  coming  out. 

But  scarce  were  we  clear  of  the  crowd  when  we 


ioo     A    DAUGHTER   OF   NEW   FRANCE 

encountered  Robert  de  Reaume,  who  forthwith  con- 
stituted himself  the  cavalier  of  our  dainty  demoiselle. 

If  he  thought  to  annoy  me  by  so  doing,  however, 
I  quickly  repaid  him,  resigned  to  him  the  care  of 
both  ladies,  and  turned  back  to  Cadillac,  who  was  still 
trying  to  make  his  way  through  the  throng,  supported 
by  a  posse  of  honor  from  the  Governor's  guard,  which 
had  been  sent  down  to  the  ship  to  meet  the  bearer  of 
the  despatches,  whoever  the  King's  messenger  might 
be. 

Despite  this  formality  of  a  guard  of  honor,  the 
good  townspeople  pressed  close  upon  our  Sieur, 
some  anxious  for  news  from  the  old  country  and 
the  court,  others  eager  to  tell  of  the  siege  and  to 
ask  how  the  ship  had  eluded  the  English.  Even 
one  or  two  of  the  more  prominent  citizens  walked 
by  his  side  a  few  paces  to  put  a  question  indirectly 
of  political  import,  perhaps  concerning  the  temper 
of  Comte  Pontchartrain  and  the  other  ministers. 

Bowing  from  right  to  left,  and  with  a  courteous 
word  to  those  who  addressed  him,  he  yet  told 
them  nothing,  beyond,  perchance,  to  one  the  an- 
swer: "Saw  I  the  King,  you  would  know?  Ay, 
truly,  I  was  honored  with  an  audience  by  his  Au- 
gust Majesty,  and  he  made  many  inquiries  regarding 
his  colonists  of  New  France." 

To  another,  "  Pardon,  my  friend,  it  would  not  be 
becoming  of  me  to  give  you  news  before  I  have 
waited  upon  Comte  Frontenac  and  delivered  to  him 
the  despatches  wherewith  I  am  commissioned  by  the 
King's  Ministers." 

"Ah,  madame!  you  would  know  the  fashions  at 
Court?  In  sooth,  the  ladies  are  still  wearing  robes 
of  velvet  and  brocade,  with  silken  jupes;  and  there 
is,  as  of  yore,  some  small  show  of  rouge,  powder,  and 


FROM    COURT   OF   THE   SUN   KING     101 

patches.  As  for  the  cut  of  the  costumes,  I  cannot 
say,  but  I  have  brought  a  brave  one  to  Madame 
Cadillac,  which  I  doubt  not  she  will  be  ready  to  ex- 
hibit to  you." 

Thus  we  went  on,  until  we  reached  the  Chateau. 
After  we  had  passed  through  the  entrance,  a  soldier 
at  the  inner  door  would  have  had  me  wait  in  the 
anteroom,  but,  saying  curtly,  "My  secretary,"  Ca- 
dillac obtained  that  I  should  witness  his  reception  by 
Comte  Frontenac,  —  a  thoughtfulness  designed  in 
part  to  gratify  me,  although  I  dare  say  he  was  not 
unwilling  I  should  have  proof  of  the  esteem  in  which 
he  was  held  abroad,  and  the  claim  he  had  upon  the 
good  graces  of  the  viceroy. 

The  room  into  which  we  were  presently  ushered 
was  the  smaller  audience  chamber,  the  same  whither 
I  had  been  conducted  with  Barbe  on  the  evening 
when  she  had  come  to  protest  against  being  carried 
away  by  the  English. 

Again  the  Governor  sat  at  his  writing-table,  —  he 
was  ever  as  ready  with  the  pen  as  with  the  sword,  — 
and  as  our  Sieur  saluted  him  with  a  half-proud  yet 
ceremonious  respect  of  manner,  and  a  courtliness 
that  could  only  have  been  learned  at  St.  Germain  or 
Versailles,  I  watched  with  an  absorbed  interest  the 
two  men,  now  met  for  the  first  time. 

The  most  illustrious,  Louis  de  Baude,  was  at  this 
period  full  seventy  years  of  age.  Time  had  crowned 
his  handsome  head  with  a  chaplet  of  silver,  and  his 
face  was  seamed  with  the  record  of  the  toils,  and  pas- 
sions, and  cares  that  had  beset  his  fiery  soul. 

What  a  marvellous  yet  checkered  career  his  had 
been,  I  reflected,  as  having  made  my  bow  to  him  as 
the  representative  of  the  King,  I  stood  back  against 
the  wall,  while  La  Mothe  went  forward.  And  as  I 


102     A    DAUGHTER    OF    NEW    FRANCE 

looked,  I  wondered  how  his  Excellency,  a  man  of 
courts  and  camps,  had  been  willing  to  withdraw  from 
the  brilliant  society  of  St.  Germain  and  Versailles,  to 
forego  the  prospect  of  adding  to  the  glory  of  his  mil- 
itary reputation  upon  European  battle-fields,  that  he 
might  rule  over  these  distant  lands  of  the  Sun  King, 
and  live  among  plain  merchants  and  traders,  wild 
bush-rangers  or  coureurs  de  bois,  with  savage  In- 
dians for  foes. 

A  soldier  at  the  age  of  fifteen,  he  had  been  a 
marechal  de  camp,  or  brigadier-general,  at  twenty- 
six;  an  audacious  and  notable  figure  at  Court. 
Moreover,  it  was  said  that  in  his  prime  he  had  been 
ruined  by  his  own  extravagances  and  those  of  his 
wife,  Anne  de  la  Grange-Trianon.  Rumor  had  it, 
too,  that,  proud  and  choleric  as  he  was  of  disposition, 
he  proved  powerless  to  curb  the  temper  of  his  beau- 
tiful Comtesse,  and  he  was  given  the  government  of 
New  France  to  deliver  him  from  her,  and  also  to 
afford  him  some  means  of  living. 

However  that  may  have  been,  despite  the  many 
manifestations  of  his  pride  and  intolerance  to  which 
we  in  Quebec  were  continually  treated,  his  endless 
quarrels  with  the  clergy,  with  Champigny,  the  In- 
tendant  Callieres  of  Montreal,  —  in  fact,  with  every 
one  who  dared  oppose  him,  —  he  was  the  greatest 
governor  New  France  has  known  in  my  day,  or  ever 
will  know,  to  my  thinking. 

Such  was  the  man  before  whom  our  Sieur  now 
presented  himself. 

Turning  from  his  letter-writing,  Monsieur  de  Fron- 
tenac  suffered  his  eyes  to  rest  upon  the  King's  mes- 
senger with  a  stern  and  searching  gaze. 

La  Mothe  was  at  this  time  about  thirty  years  old. 
Although  his  sojourn  in  France  had  added  to  the 


FROM    COURT   OF   THE   SUN   KING     103 

polish  of  his  address,  it  had  not  deprived  him  of  the 
Gascon  impetuosity  of  speech  and  action  which  had 
first  attracted  me  to  him. 

Did  Comte  Frontenac  with  his  knowledge  of  men 
discern  in  the  young  cavalier  a  kindred  spirit;  did 
he  recognize  in  our  Sieur  Cadillac  as  fierce  a  temper, 
as  bold  and  restless  an  ambition,  as  keen  a  sarcasm 
as  his  own? 

At  least  I  think  his  scrutiny  prepossessed  him  in 
favor  of  my  brother.  T  was  like  the  flash  when  two 
finely  tempered  blades  of  Toledo  steel  meet  and  each 
finds  the  other  true. 

"  Monsieur  the  Comte  de  Frontenac,  Chief  and 
President  of  the  Provinces  of  New  France,"  began 
Cadillac,  bowing  low  and  giving  to  the  Governor  the 
title  he  ever  so  strenuously  claimed  in  the  Council. 

"  You  are  the  bearer  of  despatches  from  his  Maj- 
esty? "  demanded  Frontenac,  tersely. 

"  Yes,  your  Excellency ;  "  and  with  another  formal 
salutation  Cadillac  handed  to  him  the  packet. 

"Anything  else?"  demanded  the  Comte,  as  he 
broke  the  seal  of  the  documents. 

"  Nothing,  your  Excellency,  save  a  letter  from 
Monsieur  the  Comte  de  Pontchartrain,  commending 
me  to  you,"  returned  La  Mothe. 

"You  are  fortunate  in  bringing  back  to  Canada 
such  strong  credentials,  monsieur,"  said  Frontenac, 
graciously ;  and  as  Cadillac  presented  the  letter,  the 
Governor  added  :  "  Very  good,  monsieur.  I  will  ask 
you  to  wait  in  the  salon  for  a  few  minutes,  while  I 
peruse  these  despatches  and  look  over  the  missive 
of  my  friend  the  illustrious  Comte  Pontchartrain ; 
after  which  I  shall  be  happy  to  receive  from  you  any 
information  you  have  acquired  abroad  that  may  in 
your  judgment  be  of  service  to  New  France.  Or, 


io4     A   DAUGHTER   OF   NEW   FRANCE 

go  home,  but  come  back  and  dine  with  me  this 
evening.  You  may  perhaps  have  forgotten  the  fla- 
vor of  our  bear's  meat  and  venison.  Moreover,  I 
have  no  other  guests  bidden  for  to-night,  and  we  can 
therefore  discuss  your  news  great  and  small  over 
the  viands  such  as  they  are,  and  the  best  eau  de  vie 
that  Canada  affords.  I  regret  that  I  cannot  offer 
you  the  fine  wines  to  which,  no  doubt,  you  have 
been  accustomed  in  the  palaces  of  the  great,"  he 
concluded  bitterly. 

"  Monsieur  de  Frontenac,  your  command  is  my 
pleasure,"  returned  Cadillac,  well  understanding  the 
compliment  and  promise  of  favor  it  implied.  "  Fur- 
ther, I  beg  to  say,  although  it  may  occasionally  of 
late  have  been  my  fortune  to  dine  in  high  places,  I 
have  never  esteemed  myself  more  honored  than  I 
am  now  by  your  invitation ;  nor  more  fortunate  in 
being  afforded  an  opportunity  to  sketch  the  course 
of  events  in  France  as  they  passed  before  my  poor 
observation, — with  the  hope  that  they  may  be  of 
some  slight  interest  to  so  distinguished  and  noble  a 
host." 

Comte  Frontenac  smiled,  well  pleased  at  this 
tribute  to  his  dignity  from  one  just  out  from  the 
mother  country. 

"  Also,"  continued  De  la  Mothe,  "  I  beg  to  in- 
form your  Excellency  that  my  Lord  the  Comte  de 
Pontchartrain  has  sent  over  by  me  to  you  a  goodly 
present  of  Sillery  and  Burgundy,  to  which  I  have 
been  so  bold  as  to  add  a  pipe  of  Hermitage,  whereof 
I  pray  your  acceptance.  I  will  give  orders  to  have 
it  sent  up  from  the  ship  without  delay." 

"Thanks,  thanks,  chevalier.  Then,  when  it  is 
settled,  you  must  taste  the  first  of  it  with  me,"  an- 
swered the  Governor,  with  genial  good  humor.  "  Ah, 


FROM    COURT   OF  THE   SUN   KING     105 

Sieur  Cadillac,  the  bouquet  and  flavor  of  the  Hermit- 
age are,  I  am  sure,  most  luscious ;  and,  grateful  as 
may  be  the  sparkling  Sillery  and  the  rich  wine  of 
Burgundy  to  the  palate  of  a  whilom  courtier  who  has 
not  quite  forgotten  the  art  of  good  living,  yet  far 
more  warming  to  his  heart  is  the  evidence  that  his 
friends  in  France  still  hold  him  in  remembrance." 

Thereupon  Cadillac  withdrew,  to  return  later. 

The  letter  from  the  King's  Minister,  whereof  he 
showed  me  a  copy,  was  not  merely  a  commend  of 
a  strange  cavalier,  from  one  noble  friend  to  another, 
but  was,  in  effect,  a  suggestion  from  the  King  him- 
self. Afterwards  I  made  a  transcript  of  it,  which  I 
now  find  among  my  papers.  Thus  it  runs: — 

"  To  the  most  Excellent  Lord,  Louis  de  Baude,  Comte  de 
Frontenac  and  Viceroy  of  New  France. 

"  The  Sieur  de  la  Mothe  Cadillac,  a  gentleman  of  Acadia, 
having  been  ordered  to  embark  for  the  service  of  the  King 
on  the  Embuscade,  which  vessel  brought  him  to  France, 
His  Majesty,  being  informed  that  during  his  absence  his 
habitation  has  been  ruined,  hopes  that  Monsieur  le  Comte 
de  Frontenac,  Governor  of  His  Majesty's  Provinces  of  New 
France,  will  find  it  convenient  to  give  the  Chevalier  Cadillac 
such  employment  as  he  may  find  proper  for  his  services,  and 
that  he  will  assist  him  as  he  can." 


Such  was  the  beginning  of  the  friendship  and 
patronage  which  Comte  Frontenac  ever  showed  my 
brother  De  la  Mothe.  Cadillac  was  appointed  lieu- 
tenant and  then  captain  of  the  troops  of  the  Colony. 
Later,  he  was  made  a  Knight  of  the  Order  of  St. 
Louis,  Ensign  of  the  Navy,  and  in  requital  for  his 
services  received  a  donation  from  the  public  treasury. 


io6     A   DAUGHTER   OF   NEW   FRANCE 

The  keen  repartee  and  ready  speech  of  "  mon  che- 
valier" were  like  a  piquant  sauce  to  the  brilliant  din- 
ners which  the  Governor  gave  at  the  Chateau ;  but 
alack,  he  made  the  quarrels  of  his  patron  his  own, 
and  his  pen,  too  often  dipped  in  gall,  sent  back  to 
the  Old  World  sketches  of  Comte  Frontenac's  oppo- 
nents which  even  I  recognized  as  much  too  highly 
colored,  not  to  say,  untrue. 

I  will  but  mention  the  desperate  straits  of  the 
Colony  during  the  next  year ;  also  the  plans  for  the 
descent  upon  the  southern  provinces  in  regard  to 
which  my  brother  was  again  summoned  to  France. 
Again  the  project  came  to  naught,  but,  at  De  la 
Mothe's  recommendation,  a  fleet  of  small  vessels  was 
built,  to  repel  any  contemplated  invasion  of  the  St. 
Lawrence. 

In  the  mean  time  our  undaunted  Governor  had 
broken  the  English  and  Indian  blockade  of  the 
Outawa  which  for  three  years  had  prevented  the 
bringing  down  from  Michilimackinac  the  great  ac- 
cumulation of  beaver  skins,  the  delay  whereof  almost 
bankrupted  New  France  and  brought  her  people  to 
famine. 

It  was  my  good  fortune  to  go  up  with  the  Gov- 
ernor's company  to  Montreal  to  witness  the  success 
of  this  enterprise.  Truly,  it  was  a  spectacle  to  glad- 
den the  heart.  We  found  the  town  swarming  with 
Indians,  voyageurs,  and  coureurs  de  bois. 

Two  hundred  canoes  had  arrived  laden  with  the 
precious  pelts,  and  the  citizens,  wild  with  joy  at  sight 
of  the  wealth  for  which  they  had  waited  so  long, 
again  hailed  Monsieur  de  Frontenac  as  the  Father 
of  the  People,  the  Preserver  of  the  Country. 

The  winter  that  followed  was  a  season  of  unusual 
gayety,  especially  among  the  young  officers  and 


FROM    COURT   OF  THE   SUN   KING     107 

seigneurs  whom  Monsieur  de  Frontenac,  despite  his 
seventy-four  years,  delighted  to  gather  about  him. 

In  this  circle,  as  brother-in-law  of  Cadillac,  I  was 
admitted.  All  went  merrily  until  the  Governor  set 
us  to  the  acting  of  theatricals. 

We  played  two  pieces  with  flattering  encourage- 
ment. Then  a  disagreement  arose  between  the 
Comte  and  Monseigneur  de  St.  Vallier  anent  a  cer- 
tain play  which  rumor  falsely  said  his  Excellency 
intended  to  have  performed;  and  thus  did  our  inter- 
val of  peace  end  in  discord. 

My  sister  Therese  had  not  liked  over-much  these 
diversions,  from  the  beginning.  Therefore  she  ad- 
vanced no  objection  when  one  day,  after  La  Mothe 
and  I  had  come  from  the  Castle,  he  asked  abruptly, — 

"  Therese,  what  think  you  ?  Comte  Frontenac  has 
offered  me  the  command  of  the  Upper  Indian  Nations 
at  Michilimackinac." 

"  Eh  bien,  mon  ami,  when  are  we  to  set  out?  " 
she  replied,  starting  to  her  feet  as  though  on  the 
instant  ready  for  the  journey,  arduous  as  it  was  sure 
to  be. 

"  My  dear  Therese,"  said  her  husband  with  a  kiss, 
for  notwithstanding  his  occasional  outbursts  of  tem- 
per, his  sometime  moroseness,  he  was  a  lover  still,  — 
"  My  dear  The"rese,  that  distant  post  is  a  wild  and 
dreary  place.  Neither  bread  nor  meat  is  eaten  there, 
and  no  food  is  to  be  had  save  a  wretched  kind  of 
fish  and  the  coarse  Indian  corn.  Even  the  latter  is 
worth  fifty  francs  the  minot." 

"  Ah  !  you  will  not  accept  the  appointment?  " 

"  I  must;   the  offer  is  in  effect  a  command." 

"  Then  I  will  go  too,"  she  averred.  "  Didst  doubt 
it,  La  Mothe?  Do  you  not  know  I  fear  no  hard- 
ship with  you?  Have  I  behaved  or  borne  myself 


io8  A  DAUGHTER  OF  NEW  FRANCE 

so  ill  in  past  stress  that  you  think  I  am  fit  but  for 
this  soft  life  we  have  spent  for  the  last  year  in 
Quebec?" 

"  Far  from  it,  Therese.  God  knows  you  have  ever 
been  most  brave  and  steadfast ;  many  a  man  might 
envy  your  courage  and  power  of  endurance.  Yet  —  " 
He  broke  off  hastily,  but  his  glance  at  the  cradle 
of  birch  bark  fashioned  like  a  tiny  canoe,  that  stood 
before  the  hearth,  completed  the  sentence  as  well  as 
words  would  have  done. 

In  that  cradle  lay  asleep  their  infant  boy. 

The  little  Madeleine,  now  a  sportive  child  of  five 
years,  might  have  been  intrusted  for  a  space  to  the 
charge  of  her  aunts,  my  sisters,  but  how  could  this 
baby  son,  Cadillac's  heir,  be  left  behind  to  other  than 
its  mother's  care?  Still  less  should  this  young  life 
be  exposed  to  the  severity  of  the  climate  of  Michili- 
mackinac.  Therese  fell  weeping  upon  her  husband's 
breast.  Her  heart  was  rent  by  a  fierce  struggle  be- 
tween her  wifely  devotion  and  her  maternal  love. 

At  this  moment  the  child  awoke  and  cried,  and 
mother  love  conquered. 

Springing  to  the  little  canoe  bed,  Therese  caught 
up  the  baby  Antoine,  all  rosy  with  sleep  and  sweet 
as  a  budding  flower,  pressed  fond,  impulsive  kisses 
upon  his  soft  neck  and  round  cheek,  and  presently, 
with  a  laugh  that  was  half  a  sob,  thrust  him  into  his 
proud  father's  arms. 

Cadillac  laughed  too  and  caressed  the  child,  who 
forthwith  thrust  out  its  little  hands  and  grasped  the 
mustaches  of  the  bold  captain. 

"Ma  foi!  my  young  combatant,  if  such  is  thy 
manner  of  warfare  thou  wouldst  vanquish  me  in  a 
trice,"  exclaimed  La  Mothe,  giving  him  back  to 
his  mother. 


FROM    COURT   OF   THE   SUN    KING     109 

"  Yes,  yes,  I  see  it  is  my  duty  to  remain  behind," 
said  Therese,  sorrowfully. 

"  How  I  wish  you  could  accompany  me,  sweet 
one  !  "  rejoined  her  husband.  "  The  wilderness  would 
not  be  dreary  with  you  to  brighten  it ;  but 't  is  indeed 
no  place  for  a  woman.  Besides,  I  shall  need  you  here 
to  look  after  my  affairs,  since  in  this  expedition  I 
have  promised  to  take  Normand  with  me,  —  is  it  not 
so,  brother?  " 

"  If  Normand  goes,  I  am  half  content,  for  I  know 
he  will  care  for  your  comfort,"  interposed  Therese, 
generously ;  and  from  that  time,  finding  that  she 
could  thus  best  serve  the  interests  of  the  husband 
whom  she  so  dearly  loved,  she  made  no  further 
objection  to  staying  at  Quebec. 


CHAPTER  NINTH 
AT  THE  INTENDANT'S  PALACE 

HAPPY  was  I  to  have  obtained  from  "  mon 
chevalier "  permission  to  accompany  him  to 
his  new  post. 

Although  welcomed  among  the  pleasant  company 
at  the  Chateau,  I  found  there  little  chance  of  per- 
sonal advancement.  At  home  I  missed  my  mother, 
who  had  died  two  years  before,  and  my  father,  grown 
a  decade  older  in  sorrow  at  her  loss,  was  dissatisfied 
with  me,  because  I  did  not  choose  to  take  the  part- 
nership with  my  brothers  which  he  offered  me  in  his 
business. 

Had  I  obeyed  his  wish,  no  doubt  I  should  be  far 
better  off  in  the  matter  of  temporal  provision  than  I 
am  to-day.  But  I  was  young;  and  I  longed  for  the 
stirring  adventures  of  a  roving  life  once  more,  even 
though  it  was  like  to  be  fraught  with  perils. 

To  abandon  this  ambition  and  settle  down  to  the 
humdrum  and  prosperous  ease  of  a  merchant  trader 
of  Quebec  would  be,  it  seemed  to  me,  like  to  a  man's 
selling  his  birthright  of  liberty  for  a  mess  of  the  pot- 
tage of  material  comfort. 

My  temper  being  out  of  joint,  even  the  frivolous 
moods  and  humors  of  my  whilom  childish  friend, 
little  Barbe,  had  chafed  and  vexed  me,  —  little  Barbe, 
now  grown  into  a  stately  demoiselle  whom  all  the 
young  cavaliers  of  Quebec  society  were  eager  to 
wait  upon,  whom  they  sought  out  at  fetes,  filling 


AT  THE   INTENDANT'S   PALACE     in 

her  ears  with  pretty  speeches  and  compliments,  until 
her  head  was  wellnigh  turned  with  their  flatteries. 

For  a  time  Barbe  had  been  removed  from  aught  to 
distract  her  from  her  studies,  by  being  sent  to  dwell 
at  the  Convent  of  the  Ursulines ;  and  I  meanwhile 
had  been  much  occupied,  both  with  the  papers  of  my 
brother  De  la  Mothe,  and  some  accounts  that  I  kept 
for  my  father. 

In  summer,  when  I  went  to  Beauport,  there  was 
always  Robert  de  Reaume  paying  court  to  the  girl, 
half  in  jest,  yet  finding  an  evident  fascination  in  her 
bright  eyes  and  gay  repartee. 

In  the  autumn  of  1694  my  uncle  had  taken  a 
house  in  the  town  and  bidden  all  his  friends  to  a 
grand  entertainment  therein.  Since  then  Barbe  had 
been  as  a  butterfly,  with  a  taste  only  for  the  gor- 
geous ;  or  perhaps  I  might  better  compare  her  with 
that  tiny  creature  thrilling  with  the  joy  of  existence, 
the  humming-bird,  which  craves  but  the  sweetness 
of  life,  and  darts  away  in  affright  at  the  breath  of  the 
softest  wind. 

Puzzled  by  the  change  from  the  merry  pranks 
which  she  sometimes  played  upon  me  in  the  early 
days  after  my  return  from  Acadia,  to  the  shyness 
with  which  she  now  avoided  me,  I  wondered  vaguely 
if  her  fancy  had  been  caught  by  the  fine  uniform  and 
polite  phrases  of  the  Bostonnais  officer  who  long 
ago  came  to  demand  that  the  maid  should  be  sent 
back  to  her  own  people. 

Again,  when  I  beheld  her  so  sprightly  and  arch, 
yet  modest  withal,  toward  all  the  gallants  who  sought 
her  favor,  so  ready  in  reply  to  the  inane  sallies  that 
Robert  de  Reaume  passed  off  as  wit,  I  made  up  my 
mind  she  was  but  a  shallow  coquette  without  heart 
or  feeling. 


ii2     A   DAUGHTER   OF   NEW    FRANCE 

Upon  one  point  I  was  determined,  —  she  might 
have  all  the  world  at  her  feet,  that  is,  our  very  small 
world  of  Quebec,  but  she  should  not  make  sport 
of  me. 

Accordingly,  on  many  occasions  I  let  her  know 
I  considered  her  frivolity  most  unbecoming.  Thus, 
with  me  she  never  jested,  but,  on  the  other  hand, 
I  fear  she  held  my  sage  advice  but  lightly,  since 
she  continued  to  do  everything  of  which  I  dis- 
approved, as  if  with  the  special  purpose  to  pro- 
voke me. 

On  the  same  day  that  Cadillac  spoke  to  me  of  his 
expedition,  I  began  to  make  arrangements  for  the 
journey  into  the  wilderness.  The  following  evening 
there  was  a  gathering  at  the  Palace  of  the  Intendant 
in  honor  of  the  fete-day  of  Madame  de  Champigny. 
Although  Governor  Frontenac  and  the  Intendant 
de  Champigny  were  during  the  greater  part  of  the 
time  at  odds,  their  animosities  did  not  create  as  in- 
surmountable a  barrier  between  them  as  might  be 
supposed. 

The  wife  of  the  Intendant  was,  moreover,  greatly 
respected  by  every  one,  and  on  this  occasion  society, 
whatever  its  political  views,  came  to  pay  its  respects 
to  her. 

For  myself,  I  esteemed  it  the  more  incumbent  upon 
me  to  offer  my  devoirs  to  this  good  lady,  since  I  was 
on  the  eve  of  leaving  my  native  town  for  an  indefinite 
period ;  the  opportunity  was  favorable  also  for  mak- 
ing my  adieux  to  many  acquaintances  of  whom  I 
might  not  otherwise  have  a  chance  to  take  leave. 
Then,  too,  Barbe  would  be  there,  and,  despite  the 
strangeness  that  had  come  between  us,  I  wished  to 
tell  her  the  news. 

When  I  entered  the  Palace,  my  ears  were  greeted 


AT  THE   INTENDANT'S   PALACE     113 

by  the  melody  of  the  inspiriting  chanson  to  his 
Glorious  Majesty,  composed  by  Lulli,  the  King's 
favorite  musician.  I  had,  however,  been  too  often  a 
guest  here  to  need  the  guidance  of  its  strains,  or  of 
the  servants  in  attendance,  in  order  to  find  my  way 
to  the  salon,  where  I  forthwith  presented  myself. 

Madame  de  Champigny  stood  at  one  end  of  the 
room,  surrounded  by  a  little  group  of  her  friends. 

As  I  bent  over  her  hand  and  murmured  my  con- 
gratulations, she  said,  — 

"  Normand,  it  is  long  since  we  have  had  the  pleas- 
ure of  welcoming  you.  I  fear  you  young  officers  find 
our  evenings  passing  dull;  nevertheless  to-night," 
and  she  glanced  toward  a  group  of  demoiselles  and 
gallants  engaged  in  the  romping  game  of  Le  Pont 
d'Avignon,  "  perhaps  to-night  you  may  find  the  time 
pass  pleasantly." 

"  Madame,"  I  replied  with  a  bow,  "  a  gathering  at 
the  Palace  is  always  charming,  and  I  shall  often  recall 
this  scene  wherein  elegant  hospitality  and  pleasant 
recreation  are  so  well  combined,  when  to  remember 
will  form  a  favorite  pastime." 

She  looked  at  me  sharply,  catching,  no  doubt,  in 
my  voice  a  more  serious  meaning  than  my  words  of 
themselves  conveyed. 

"  You  speak  as  if  you  were  on  the  point  of  leaving 
us,  monsieur,"  she  said  curiously,  yet  with  gracious 
kindness. 

"  Yes,  madame,"  I  answered,  smiling,  but  of  a  sud- 
den half  regretful  too.  "  You  have  perhaps  already 
heard  that  my  brother  is  to  depart  a  fortnight  hence 
to  take  command  at  Michilimackinac?  I  am  to  go 
with  him." 

"The  Sieur  de  Cadillac  is  to  succeed  the  Sieur  de 
Louvigny !  "  exclaimed  Madame  de  Champigny,  and 
8 


u4     A    DAUGHTER   OF   NEW   FRANCE 

I  could  see  that  my  information  was  news  to  her. 
"  Indeed,  it  is  a  well-deserved  honor,"  she  continued 
warmly;  "  an  additional  proof  of  the  high  esteem  in 
which  the  Governor  holds  the  ability  and  resources 
of  the  Chevalier  de  la  Mothe.  But  to  set  forth  in 
the  dead  of  winter  !  Why  could  not  Comte  Frontenac 
suffer  affairs  to  remain  as  they  are  until  the  opening 
of  the  spring?  Does  he  think  his  hot  impatience  will 
kindle  fires  along  the  route  for  his  envoys?" 

"  Where  the  welfare  of  New  France  is  concerned, 
her  officers  dally  not,  nor  wait  upon  a  softer  season," 
I  responded  in  a  manner  of  pleasantry,  yet  with 
significance. 

"  True,  true,"  she  said,  quoting  one  of  our  Canadian 
proverbs,  "'A  gallant  man  needs  no  drum  to  arouse 
him;'  he  braves  the  snows  and  storms  with  the  same 
courage  that  he  faces  an  army.  Since  to  go  you  are 
decided,  I  trust  the  elements  will  be  kind  to  you, 
Monsieur  Normand,  and  that  your  sojourn  at  Michili- 
mackinac  may  be  to  your  advancement." 

Thanking  Madame  de  Champigny  for  her  good 
wishes,  I  drew  back  to  make  way  for  others  who 
would  fain  extend  to  her  their  fete-day  congratula- 
tions. 

The  intelligence  of  the  appointment  of  the  Sieur 
Cadillac  to  the  important  frontier  post  of  the  far  west 
had,  I  could  see,  created  a  sensation  in  the  circle 
about  her,  and  began  to  be  repeated  through  the 
salon. 

Now  that  I  had  leisure  to  look  around  me,  my  eyes 
involuntarily  sought  out  Barbe,  and  I  presently  de- 
scried her  as  she  stood,  laughing  and  radiant,  among 
a  mirthful  band  of  young  people. 

They  had  been  playing  "  Colin  Maillard."  Le 
Moyne  of  Chateauguay,  the  whilom  "  Colin,"  had 


AT   THE   INTENDANT'S    PALACE     115 

made  Barbe  captive,  and  she  must  needs  take  his 
place  in  the  centre  of  the  ring. 

She  did  not  see  me,  for  already  he  held  up  the 
scarf  wherewith  to  blind  her  bright  eyes,  and  I  would 
have  liked  to  thrust  him  aside  as  over-bold  when  he 
proceeded  to  bind  it  about  her  brow,  his  awkward 
fingers  lingering  over-long,  I  thought,  upon  her 
beautiful  hair. 

However,  luckily,  he  could  not  lengthen  out  the 
task  by  more  than  a  second  or  two.  When  it  was 
done,  I  slipped  among  the  rompers  as  they  joined 
hands  anew,  and  with  them  circled  around  the  dainty 
figure  in  the  ring. 

Our  demoiselle  was  a  charming  picture  in  her  robe 
of  gold-colored  brocade,  cut,  as  was  then  the  mode  in 
France,  with  a  long  pointed  waist,  round  at  the  neck 
and  with  short  sleeves ;  the  skirts  being  tucked  up, 
there  was  displayed  beneath  them  a  coquettish  petti- 
coat of  pale  blue  satin  embroidered  with  silver  thread  ; 
bordering  her  graceful  shoulders  was  a  frill  of  soft 
lace,  and  about  her  pretty  throat  was  clasped  the 
treasured  linked  necklace  that  my  uncle  Guyon  had 
brought  her  from  across  the  seas  when  she  was  but  a 
child. 

These  details  of  her  costume  I  gleaned  from  her 
afterwards,  —  though  not  without  some  bantering  at 
my  expense. 

The  white  riband  that  hid  her  violet  eyes  showed  to 
good  advantage  her  flower-like  English  complexion, 
and  contrasted  with  the  sunny  glint  of  her  hair,  that 
somehow  made  me  think  of  the  King's  golden  fleur- 
de-lis  above  the  white  glory  of  the  royal  banner. 

In  truth,  she  seemed,  too,  a  most  picturesque  sym- 
bol of  fate,  as  she  stood  there  with  darkened  eyes, 
smiling,  alluring,  yet  trammelled,  too  often  catching 


n6     A   DAUGHTER   OF   NEW   FRANCE 

at  nothing,  made  sport  of  by  the  gay  world  as  with 
merry  song  it  passed  before  her. 

Of  a  sudden,  and  so  like  fate,  too,  that  I  must 
confess  I  was  conscious  of  a  certain  uneasiness, 
after  tapping  sharply  with  her  Colin's  stick  three 
times  upon  the  floor,  thus  bringing  the  players  to  a 
pause,  she  advanced  a  step  or  two  toward  me  and 
pointed  at  me  with  the  staff. 

In  vain  I  dodged  and  made  as  if  to  elude  it. 

"  Fair  play  !  fair  play  !  "  she  called,  in  warning 
exultation. 

Thereupon  I  was  forced  to  take  hold  of  the  end  of 
the  stick,  as  was  the  rule  of  the  game. 

"  Who  goes  there?"  she  demanded  gayly. 

"Your  cavalier,"  I  answered,  imitating  the  voice  of 
Le  Moyne;  and  right  well,  too,  I  trow,  for  a  ripple  of 
laughter  went  round,  and  the  handsome  demoiselle 
next  to  me  whispered,  "  Cleverly  done." 

Barbe,  however,  was  not  deceived.  At  the  sound 
of  my  voice  she  relaxed  her  hold  of  the  staff,  so  that 
between  us  it  fell  to  the  floor. 

"  Normand  !  "  she  exclaimed,  tearing  the  bandage 
from  her  eyes  and  looking  up  at  me  archly,  —  in 
sooth,  a  very  charming  picture  of  blushing  confusion 
and  surprise,  —  "  Normand  !  Why,  how  you  frighted 
me !  And  no  wonder,  sir,"  she  went  on,  summon- 
ing a  mischievous  sprightliness  to  hide  her  discom- 
fiture, "  no  wonder.  Who  ever  thought  to  behold 
Sir  Gravity  playing  at  Colin  Maillard,  or  to  see  him 
made  captive  by  Folly?  " 

And  thereat  she  made  me  a  deep  curtsy. 

The  jest  was  against  me,  but  I  said,  with  the  best 
grace  I  could  muster,— 

"  Eh  bien,  mademoiselle,  since  I  have  played  the 
fool  for  your  sake,  I  claim  a  reward;  will  you  not 


AT   THE   INTEND  ANT'S   PALACE     117 

take  a  turn  or  two  with  me  about  the  room?  These 
games  are  so  vastly  heating  — 

"  What  is  seldom  is  wonderful,  and,  since  mon- 
sieur has  condescended  to  our  frivolity,  I  will  humor 
his  staidness,"  she  assented,  half  mockingly. 

After  I  had  served  my  turn  as  Colin,  and  made 
prisoner  the  vivacious  neighbor  who  had  commended 
my  powers  of  mimicry,  I  accordingly  led  Barbe  away, 
not  to  make  the  tour  of  the  salon,  however,  for  that 
had  been  but  a  ruse.  Instead,  I  led  her  to  an  otto- 
man set  over  against  one  of  the  doors;  and  if  the 
position  was  conspicuous,  I  was  too  busy  with  my 
own  thoughts  to  notice  the  fact. 

"  Will  you  not  sit  down  here  a  moment,  Barbe,  and 
rest  after  your  romping?  "  I  said.  "  I  have  some- 
thing to  tell,  and  something  to  ask  of  you." 

She  gave  me  a  roguishly  demure  yet  apprehensive 
glance,  and  then  obediently  sank  down  upon  the 
velvet  cushions. 

"  Barbe,"  I  continued  abruptly,  as  I  seated  myself 
beside  her,  "  our  Sieur  is  ordered  to  the  command  at 
Fort  Michilimackinac,  and  I  am  to  go  with  him." 

How  incomprehensible  are  the  nerves  and  emotions 
of  these  demoiselles !  At  this  announcement  of  mine 
Barbe,  who  had  taken  such  pains  to  show  me  that  my 
presence  or  absence  was  a  matter  of  no  moment  to 
her,  gave  a  little  cry,  lost  color,  and  leaned  back 
against  the  wall ;  truly,  I  thought  she  was  going  off 
in  a  faint. 

Her  exclamation  attracted  the  attention  of  several 
officers  who  stood  chatting  near  by,  among  them  the 
same  young  Le  Moyne,  and  Sabrevois,  who  was  still 
a  ladies'  cavalier. 

"  Is  mademoiselle  ill?  "  inquired  the  latter,  spring- 
ing to  her  side. 


n8     A    DAUGHTER   OF    NEW   FRANCE 

"  The  heat  of  the  room,  perchance,"  ventured  Le 
Moyne. 

"May  I  bring  a  cup  of  water?  or  if  mademoiselle 
would  but  touch  with  her  lips  a  glass  of  red  wine,  I 
prophesy  it  would  revive  her,"  urged  Sabrevois,  while 
I  remained  staring  at  her,  too  astonished  to  have  my 
wits  about  me. 

"Thanks,  messieurs,  I  am  not  ill.  At  least,  so 
crowded  is  the  room  that  some  one  in  passing  trod 
upon  my  foot,  and  without  thinking,  I  cried  out. 
'T  was  childish  of  me,  I  admit,"  she  faltered. 

Glancing  down  at  the  little  high-heeled  slippers  of 
yellow  satin  which  peeped  from  beneath  her  gown, 
Le  Moyne  said  gallantly,  — 

"  Ah,  mademoiselle,  fairy  feet  are  too  often  invis- 
ible. The  poor  offender  is  scarce  to  blame  that  he 
did  not  see  them ;  still  offender  he  is,  and  did  I  but 
know  his  name,  I  would  challenge  him  forthwith." 

"Then  I  am  glad  you  do  not  know  it,  and  no  more 
do  I,  yet  I  am  beholden  to  you  for  your  champion- 
ship," replied  Barbe  with  ready  repartee,  notwith- 
standing her  recent  discomfiture. 

The  gentlemen  turned  away  with  a  laugh,  and  now, 
apparently  quite  recovered  from  her  sudden  distress, 
Barbe  leaned  toward  me,  saying, — 

"  See  that  pleasant  corner  over  there  in  the  shadow 
of  those  branches  of  evergreen  wherewith  Madame 
de  Champigny  has  had  the  salon  decorated;  let  us 
ensconce  ourselves  there :  thus,  uninterrupted,  you 
can  tell  me  what  you  wish  to  say." 

We  crossed  the  room  and  took  possession  of  the 
little  recess. 

"  And  are  you  really  glad  to  go  to  Michilimackinac, 
Normand?"  Barbe  asked  with  sympathetic  interest. 

"Yes,"  I  answered;  "  for  although  't  is  a  desolate 


AT  THE   INTENDANT'S   PALACE     119 

post,  Monsieur  de  Cadillac  looks  upon  it  in  the  light 
of  an  advancement,  and  he  has  promised  me  that 
whatever  helps  his  fortunes  shall  help  mine.  More- 
over, I  have  grown  discontented  here ;  so  much  has 
combined  to  vex  me,  —  even  you,  Barbe  — 

"  What,  I !  "  she  began  in  well-feigned  surprise, 
and  then  relenting,  said,  in  tones  like  her  old  sweet 
self,  "  Ah,  Normand,  I  never  meant  to  really  vex 
you  !  " 

Her  gentleness  encouraged  me  to  say  that  over 
which  I  had  felt  some  misgiving. 

"I  believe  you,  dear  Barbe,  and  therefore,  since 
we  are  to  set  out  this  day  fortnight,  I  am  going  to 
beg  of  you  —  " 

"  Yes,"  she  murmured,  as  I  hesitated. 

"  I  am  going  to  beg  of  you  not  to  be  so  gay 
and  pleasure-loving  while  I  am  away,"  I  concluded 
gravely. 

"And  wherefore  not,  sir?"  she  inquired,  drawing 
back,  while  all  the  radiance  died  out  of  her  face. 

Unaccountably,  I  felt  as  one  upon  whom  a  ray  of 
sunlight  has  shone  for  a  moment  and  then  has  passed 
beyond  him,  leaving  him  alone  in  the  shadow. 

"  Wherefore?"  I  blundered  on.  "Because  it  is  un- 
becoming that  you  should  coquet  first  with  one  and 
again  with  another.  There  is  Chateauguay;  did  you 
not  note  the  mirth  it  caused  when,  in  the  Colin  Mail- 
lard,  I  named  him  your  cavalier?  His  devotion  to 
you  is  most  marked ;  't  were  more  generous  of 
you,  I  think,  to  either  marry  him  or  let  him  alone. 
Indeed,  it  is  a  matter  of  some  comment.  You 
seem  in  no  haste  to  keep  the  pledge  you  made  to 
Governor  Frontenac  that  you  would  take  a  husband 
in  Quebec.  I  fear  me,  after  all,  you  fancied  the 
English  officer." 


120     A    DAUGHTER   OF   NEW   FRANCE 

"  Normand,"  interrupted  the  girl,  springing  to  her 
feet,  and  to  my  surprise,  I  saw  that  she  was  angered, 
although  why,  I  cannot  even  now  imagine,  —  "Nor- 
mand !  Enough  of  this  !  If  you  have  only  fault  to 
find  with  me,  I  would  thank  you  to  tell  Robert  de 
Reaume  that  I  am  ready  to  go  home,  since  I  came 
hither  under  his  escort;  and  the  next  time  you  have 
news  of  family  interest,  —  I  mean  like  this  contem- 
plated departure  of  Sieur  Cadillac,  which  is  of  such 
moment  to  Therese,  and  so  to  all  of  us,  —  the  next 
time  you  have  intelligence  of  this  kind  to  communi- 
cate to  any  one,  let  me  advise  you  to  choose  some 
other  occasion  than  a  social  gathering.  As  for  your 
counsel  in  regard  to  my  behavior,  sir,  you  have  no 
right  to  take  me  to  task,  nor  are  you  ever  like 
to  have.  Therefore  do  not,  I  pray,  harass  your 
thoughts  over  my  conduct,  nor  my  settlement  in  life, 
since  neither  concerns  you.  There  is  Robert  now.  I 
will  speak  to  him  myself." 

"  My  faith,  Mademoiselle  Barbe,  I  did  not  mean 
to  put  you  out  of  humor,"  I  called  testily,  as  she 
started  away.  But  ere  I  had  finished  the  sentence, 
she  was  gone  to  seek  her  fur  mantle  and  hood  pre- 
paratory to  the  walk  home  in  the  starlight  with  De 
Reaume,  in  company  with  a  merry  party  of  young 
people  whose  way  lay  up  the  hill  to  the  Place 
d'Armes,  where  stood  the  new  house  of  my  uncle 
Guyon,  on  the  opposite  side  from  the  Castle. 

Thus  we  parted,  and  this  was  the  last  I  saw  of 
pretty  Barbe  for  many  a  day.  When  the  time  of  our 
setting  out  for  Michilimackinac  came,  the  tantalizing 
maid  was  absent,  having  gone  to  a  seigneury  on  the 
St.  Lawrence  to  visit  her  friend  Madeleine  de  Ver- 
cheres,  —  the  same  beautiful  Mademoiselle  Madeleine 
who,  the  year  before,  with  such  determined  cour- 


AT   THE   INTEND  ANT'S   PALACE     121 

age  and  clever  feminine  ingenuity  defended  the  fort 
against  an  attack  of  the  Iroquois,  and  kept  the  enemy 
at  bay  until  the  arrival  of  the  soldiers  sent  for  the 
protection  of  Vercheres  by  Monsieur  de  Callieres, 
Governor  of  Montreal. 

Our  departure  was  hastened  by  several  days,  to  be 
sure,  and  it  may  be  Barbe  intended  to  return  ere  the 
date  first  fixed  upon.  Nevertheless,  I  was  forced  to 
leave  Quebec  without  a  chance  to  speak  any  further 
words  of  adieu  to  her,  and  much  offended  was  I  that 
she  took  my  going  with  so  ostentatious  a  show  of 
indifference. 

It  was  necessary  that  our  Sieur  should  hasten  his 
expedition,  in  order  that  his  energy  might  prevent 
the  English  from  entering  the  country  of  the  Lake 
Indians. 

I  will  not  dwell  upon  the  intrepidity  wherewith,  in 
the  depth  of  winter,  our  gay  Gascon,  the  Chevalier 
de  Cadillac,  led  his  small  party  of  militia,  coureurs  de 
bois,  and  voyageurs  three  hundred  leagues  across 
the  frozen  wastes  to  the  Strait  of  Michilimackinac, 
which  in  those  days  commanded  the  great  fur  trade 
of  the  Northwest. 

The  feat  has  been  set  down  as  one  of  the  most 
remarkable  in  the  annals  of  New  France,  and  many 
times  since  have  I  marvelled  that  we  lived  to  reach 
the  dreary  and  isolated  post  where  we  were  fated  to 
remain  for  some  time. 

As  a  description  of  this  place  I  will  transcribe  a 
letter  which  I  writ  at  our  Sieur's  dictation  soon  after 
our  arrival. 

"  This  village  "  (he  bade  me  set  down)  "  is  one  of 
the  largest  in  all  Canada.  There  is  a  fine  fort 
of  pickets  and  sixty  houses  that  form  a  street  in  a 
straight  line  along  the  Lake  of  the  Hurons.  There 


122     A   DAUGHTER   OF   NEW   FRANCE 

is  a  garrison  of  well-disciplined  soldiers,  two  hundred 
of  the  best  formed  and  most  athletic  men  to  be  found 
in  the  New  World,  besides  other  persons  who  reside 
here  during  a  part  of  the  year.  Fish  and  smoked 
meat  constitute  the  principal  food  of  the  inhabitants. 
The  villages  of  the  savages,  wherein  are  six  or  seven 
thousand  souls,  are  distant  about  a  pistol-shot  from 
ours ;  the  lands  are  clear  for  about  three  leagues, 
and  produce  sufficient  Indian  corn  for  the  use  of 
both  the  French  and  the  savages.  Michilimackinac 
is  very  advantageously  situated,  for  the  Iroquois  dare 
not  venture  in  their  sorry  canoes  to  cross  the  Strait 
of  the  Illenese  Lake,  which  is  two  leagues  over, 
while  that  of  the  Lake  of  the  Hurons  is  too  rough  for 
such  frail  craft.  Neither  can  they  approach  us  un- 
perceived  by  land  because  of  the  fens  and  marshes. 
Within  the  enclosure  of  the  fort  are  the  chapel  and 
the  dwelling  of  the  missionary,  who  has  an  onerous 
charge  in  the  spiritual  care,  not  only  of  the  abo- 
rigines, but  of  the  scarcely  less  tractable  white  men 
of  the  post." 

The  Indians  were  allied  with  all  the  tribes  of  the 
Lakes.  Among  them  we  found  two  powerful  chiefs, 
the  Rat  and  the  Baron.  Our  Sieur  soon  discovered 
that  the  Baron  was  receiving  peace  belts  from  New 
York,  and  the  people  of  Orange  had  agreed  to 
build  a  trading-house  upon  the  Lake  of  the  Eries, 
better  known  to  our  coureurs  de  bois  as  the  Lake  of 
the  Cats,  from  the  number  of  wildcats  or  panthers 
that  infest  the  region. 

These  messages  and  peace  belts  had  been  sent 
hither  secretly,  the  Indian  envoys  being  brought  in 
under  the  guise  of  prisoners  taken  from  the  Hurons. 

Would  that  I  could  shut  out  from  my  memory  a 
certain  day  when  seven  Iroquois  were  thus  brought 


AT  THE   INTENDANT'S   PALACE     123 

to  the  beach.  As  they  landed,  some  of  our  men  sus- 
pecting treachery  and  determined  to  be  forehanded, 
attacked  and  killed  two  of  them. 

A  tumult  followed,  the  Indians  of  the  place  de- 
fending the  others  until,  finding  themselves  like  to  be 
worsted,  they  gave  up  one  of  the  pretended  prisoners, 
and  our  soldiers  and  traders,  mad  with  rage  at  their 
deceit,  invited  our  Hurons  and  Outawas  to  "  drink 
the  broth  of  an  Iroquois." 

For  not  having  prevented  these  cannibal  doings, 
our  Sieur  has  since  been  much  blamed,  but  I  know 
of  two  other  instances  where  similar  means  were 
availed  of  to  strike  terror  to  the  hearts  of  the 
savages.  At  all  events  the  Iroquois  came  no  more 
to  Michilimackinac  as  emissaries  of  our  southern 
foes. 

Meantime  Madame  Cadillac  was  not  neglectful  of 
our  comfort  Early  in  the  first  summer  of  our  stay 
at  the  fort,  she  sent  us  a  large  quantity  of  goods  and 
provisions  by  a  band  of  voyageurs  from  Ville  Marie, 
in  charge  of  Jean  Dionne,  and  at  the  same  time  she 
writ  that  she  had  agreed  to  pay  him  for  a  year's  ser- 
vice the  sum  of  300  livres,  together  with  an  Indian 
blanket,  four  shirts,  two  greatcoats,  and  a  gun. 

Again,  in  September  of  the  same  year,  she  sent  us 
supplies  through  the  merchant  Francois  Hazeur,  to 
the  amount  of  2291  livres,  6  sols,  and  4  deniers, — 
for  which  payment  was  made  a  twelvemonth  after- 
wards, when  our  voyageurs  reached  Montreal  with 
their  peltries. 

Indeed,  she  ever  took  advantage  of  the  open 
season  to  provision  us  for  the  winter ;  my  good  sister 
was  become  an  excellent  woman  of  business. 

Sometimes,  among  the  delicacies  which  we  found 
in  the  boxes  that  came  direct  from  Quebec,  —  the 


124     A    DAUGHTER    OF   NEW    FRANCE 

compotes  of  cherries  and  pears  and  apples,  the 
richly  spiced  cakes,  stuffed  Spanish  citron  and  raisins, 
the  meats  of  nuts  candied  in  sugar  from  the  maple- 
trees,  —  frequently  in  the  tastiness  of  these  pleasant 
reminders  of  old-time  fetes  I  thought  I  recognized 
the  skill  of  Barbe,  who  had  ever  a  deft  hand  in  the 
preparation  of  such  confits. 

It  was  not  until  long  afterwards,  however,  that 
I  learned  I  had  surmised  aright,  for  during  all  my 
stay  in  the  wilds  I  had  no  word  from  our  English 
demoiselle. 


CHAPTER  TENTH 

FIRE-WATER 

OFTEN,  as  in  Cadillac's  house  at  the  fort,  I  sat  at 
my  rude  table  casting  up  accounts  or  copying 
letters  to  be  sent  to  Governor  Frontenac  or  to  the 
King's  Ministers  in  France,  —  often,  indeed,  at  such 
times  would  the  piquant  face  of  pretty  Barbe  seem  to 
peer  between  me  and  the  paper  I  wrote  upon. 

Yet,  when  I  sent  missives  home,  I  made  no  in- 
quiries concerning  her,  of  my  sister  or  any  one  else. 
I  was  still  hurt  that  she  had  not  returned  from 
Vercheres  in  season  to  bid  me  adieu  and  to  wish 
me  good  fortune  upon  my  coming  away  into  the 
wilderness. 

One  winter's  evening  Sieur  Cadillac  sat  before  the 
hearthstone  of  his  home  within  the  palisade  smoking 
a  pipe  of  tobacco,  or  Indian  weed,- — the  pipe  itself 
being  of  a  curious  pattern;  the  bowl  of  red  clay 
decorated  by  bands  and  ornaments  of  lead ;  the  stem 
long,  quaintly  carved,  and  ornamented  with  gayly 
colored  feathers  of  birds,  —  a  gift  from  a  friendly 
chief. 

The  room  was  lighted  only  by  the  great  fire  of 
forest  pine,  and  opposite  to  my  brother  I  was  en- 
sconced in  a  chair  like  his  own,  —  a  section  of  a  round 
log  to  which  had  been  fastened,  to  serve  as  a  back, 
a  rude  slab  of  bark. 

Oddly  would  this  furniture  have  contrasted  with 
the  elegance  of  the  upholstery  of  the  salon  of  Ma- 


126     A   DAUGHTER    OF   NEW   FRANCE 

dame  de  Champigny,  the  carved  chairs  of  the  Castle 
audience  hall,  the  graceful  ottomans  and  tabourets  of 
my  uncle  Guyon's  new  house,  —  all  of  which  costly 
luxuries  had  been  brought  from  France  at  great 
expense. 

Without  raged  a  storm  of  sleet.  Back  of  the  fort 
with  its  wooden  bastions  and  strong  palisade  of  ce- 
dar pickets,  for  leagues,  extended  the  trackless  snows 
and  primeval  forests ;  in  front  lay  the  beach,  at  other 
seasons  a  long  stretch  of  yellow  sand,  and  the  broad 
expanse  of  the  Lake  of  the  Illenese,  which  I  believe 
is  now  known  as  Lake  Michigannig.  In  many  places 
stiff  and  shaggy  fir-trees  fringed  the  shore  with  an 
aspect  of  desolation  ;  in  others  they  rose  in  a  wall  of 
woods  from  the  water's  edge.  On  clear  days  we 
could  see,  set  like  a  jewel  in  the  gleaming  argent 
of  the  strait,  the  enchanted  Island  of  Mackinac,  the 
reputed  dwelling-place  of  the  great  Indian  Spirit, — 
an  island  that  with  its  white  cliffs,  green  foliage,  and 
rainbow  lights  often  recalled  to  my  mind  a  splendid 
opal  I  once  noticed  in  the  gem-encrusted  hilt  of  a 
sword  much  cherished  by  Comte  Frontenac. 

On  this  evening  whereof  I  write,  La  Mothe  and 
I  were  talking  of  many  things,  —  the  probable  yield 
of  furs  for  the  season,  the  chances  of  the  future,  the 
disposition  of  Governor  Frontenac  in  regard  to  cer- 
tain measures  which  my  brother  had  recommended, 
the  state  of  our  provisions.  We  chatted  too  of 
Therese  and  of  home,  in  brotherly  confidence  and 
sympathy,  —  Cadillac  smoking  his  pipe  ;  I,  who  could 
not  abide  the  Indian  weed,  making  no  pretence  of 
occupation,  but  gazing  idly  into  the  cheerful  blaze. 

The  wind  whistled  and  moaned,  and  the  sleet  drove 
against  the  sides  of  the  cabin. 

All  at  once,  above  the  noise  of  the  storm  I  heard 


FIRE-WATER  127 

the  sound  of  a  step  near  by,  and  the  next  moment 
there  came  a  sharp  knock  at  the  door. 

Starting  up,  I  threw  it  open. 

In  the  doorway,  with  the  darkness  for  a  back- 
ground, stood  a  black-robed,  ascetic  figure;  a  fur 
cape  was  thrown  carelessly  about  his  slightly  stooped 
shoulders,  and  over  his  head  was  drawn  a  capouch  of 
beaver  skin,  beneath  which  showed  a  few  thin  locks 
of  hair  that  bristled  with  sleet,  as  did  also  the  beard 
that  grew  about  his  throat,  the  upper  part  of  the  face 
being  close  shaven.  It  was  Father  Estienne  de  Car- 
heil,  who  had  come  across  the  square  of  the  fort, 
from  his  little  dwelling  beside  the  church. 

Cadillac  looked  up  in  surprise.  He  and  the  mis- 
sionary were  not  on  such  cordial  terms  as  might  lead 
him  to  expect  a  social  visit  from  the  good  father  upon 
such  a  night  as  this.  In  fact,  there  was  much  friction 
between  them,  and  long  before,  I  had  noticed  that 
they  seemed  to  have  agreed  to  hold  as  little  inter- 
course as  might  be,  while  preserving  each  toward 
the  other  a  punctilious  if  distant  courtesy. 

On  this  occasion,  however,  my  brother's  courtly 
manners  appeared  to  have  deserted  him.  Stretched 
out  at  ease  before  the  glowing  pine  logs,  he  did  not 
rise,  but  indolently  motioned  his  unlooked-for  guest 
to  the  place  I  had  vacated,  as  though,  foreknowing 
that  his  visitor's  errand  was  an  unpleasant  one,  he 
would  waste  no  time  in  polite  amenities. 

Father  Estienne  was  not  in  the  least  disconcerted 
by  this  rudeness,  yet  that  he  felt  it  I,  whose  gaze 
was  upon  him,  could  see  by  the  flash  that  leaped  into 
his  usually  mild  eyes.  It  was  gone  as  quickly,  and 
with  a  dignified  bow  he  stepped  farther  into  the 
room. 

I  made  fast  the  door,  and  hastened  to  possess  my- 


128     A   DAUGHTER   OF   NEW   FRANCE 

self  of  his  cloak  with  its  hood  and  to  put  the  pelt 
before  the  fire,  for  even  in  the  short  distance  he  had 
traversed  it  was  broidered  with  ice. 

Instead  of  taking  the  place  to  which  my  brother 
had  waved  him,  he  said  urbanely,  if  with  a  possible 
touch  of  irony,  — 

"  Thanks  for  your  courtesy,  Monsieur  de  Cadillac, 
but  I  will  not  tarry  to  sit  down  by  your  hearth." 

"  Verily,  I  have  seen  evenings  more  favorable  for 
friendly  visiting,  albeit,  't  is  said,  those  who  love  us 
think  not  of  wind  nor  weather  when  they  have  an  op- 
portunity to  aid  our  plans  or  advance  our  interests," 
answered  La  Mothe,  after  his  sarcastic  fashion. 

"  I  have  the  will  to  do  you  a  service,  if  you 
choose  but  to  look  upon  it  in  that  light,"  proceeded 
the  priest,  with  calmness,  "  although  my  business  is 
no  agreeable  affair.  In  short,  Monsieur  le  Com- 
mandant, I  am  come  to  tell  you  of  the  scene  which 
a  few  moments  since  greeted  my  eyes." 

As  the  missionary  stood  beside  our  rough  table, 
he  made  an  imposing  picture,  despite  his  lean  face, 
the  attenuation  of  frame  caused  by  his  long  fasts, 
and  vigils,  and  disciplinings,  by  the  hardships  of  his 
frequent  journeys  to  isolated  settlements  of  Indians, 
where  he  had  established  his  missions. 

His  clear-cut  features  and  high-bred  mien  told  of 
good  lineage ;  above  all,  there  was  about  him  an  air 
of  the  gentle  authority  which  depends  neither  upon 
worldly  patronage  nor  influence,  but  is  commissioned 
by  Heaven  itself;  and  now,  as  at  other  times,  when  I 
looked  at  him  I  felt  that  Father  Estienne  was  as  the 
voice  of  God  calling  to  man  in  the  wilderness. 

"  Monsieur  de  Cadillac,"  continued  the  missionary, 
fixing  the  eye  of  our  Sieur  by  the  sternness  of  his  own, 
"more  than  a  score  of  years  ago,  when  this  place 


FIRE-WATER  129 

where  we  now  live  was  but  a  desolate  extent  of  shore 
that  knew  not  the  foot  of  the  white  man,  on  the  op- 
posite side  of  the  strait  a  devoted  missionary  gathered 
together  the  remnant  of  the  Huron  nation  including, 
among  their  many  tribes,  the  Outawas.  Here  he 
raised  a  chapel  of  cedar  boughs,  and  around  this  for- 
est sanctuary,  his  poor  dwelling,  and  their  own  lodges 
the  Indians  built  a  palisaded  fort  which  soon  became 
known  as  St.  Ignace  of  the  Michilimackinacs. 

"  The  cold  was  intense  and  cultivation  difficult,  but 
the  Hurons  had  chosen  this  site  because  the  neigh- 
boring waters  teemed  with  fish,  and  the  missionary 
heeded  not  its  disadvantages,  since  from  this  situa- 
tion it  was  easy  to  gain  access  to  all  the  tribes  of  the 
Lake  Country. 

"Here  he  lived  and  taught  them.  After  a  time  this 
good  man  was  called  to  seek  in  the  Lands  of  the 
Great  River  new  nations  to  instruct.  He  was  suc- 
ceeded here  by  others  who  imitated  his  self-sacri- 
ficing toil.  The  Indians  were  most  exemplary;  the 
settlement  flourished ;  traders  from  Ville  Marie  and 
Quebec  came  to  the  mission.  Hither  the  red  men 
of  all  the  Lake  Country  brought  the  skins  of  the  otter 
and  beavers  they  had  trapped  during  the  long  winter, 
to  barter  them  for  blankets  and  the  goods  of  the 
French;  Michilimackinac  became  the  great  centre 
of  the  fur  trade,  the  key  to  all  the  west.  A  mili- 
tary post  was  established  upon  the  eastern  shore  of 
the  strait. 

"  In  my  work  on  the  missions  I  was  sent  hither. 

"  Then  you  came,  Monsieur  de  Cadillac.  It  has 
pleased  you  to  encourage  a  trade  most  disastrous  in 
this  region ;  to  bring  from  Montreal  the  strong  waters 
that  steal  tongue  and  brains  and  render  useless  the 
hands  of  men. 

9 


i3o     A   DAUGHTER    OF   NEW    FRANCE 

"  Formerly,  when  the  Indians  returned  from  the 
chase,  the  fisheries,  their  long  trapping  expeditions, 
they  repaired  first  to  the  church,  there  to  render 
thanks  to  Heaven  for  the  success  of  their  enterprises. 
Now,  look  you,  to-day  a  large  band  of  Outawas  came  in 
with  all  haste  to  outrun  the  approaching  storm.  You 
beheld  the  goodly  showing  they  made  with  their  pel- 
tries, their  joy  at  getting  back  to  the  protection  of 
the  fort. 

"  And  what  next,  Monsieur  de  Cadillac  ?  The  trader 
Le  Maire  takes  a  cask  of  brandy  into  their  village ;  he 
proposes  a  game  of  bowl,  the  stakes  to  be  drams  of 
liquor  against  their  furs.  The  Indians  pile  high  the 
peltries  before  him ;  the  play  begins ;  the  air  rings 
with  wild  cries  and  guttural  laughter,  as  to  and  fro 
are  tossed  the  small,  gayly  colored  pieces  of  bone. 

"All  this  takes  place  in  the  lodge  of  the  Rat,  their 
principal  chief.  Jules  wins  and  wins.  Finally,  all 
the  furs  have  been  gambled  away;  poor  as  when 
they  went  out  into  the  woods  at  the  beginning  of  the 
winter,  the  Indians  reel  from  the  lodge  or  sink  down 
upon  the  floor.  Now  they  lie  in  their  wigwams  in  a 
drunken  stupor.  Monsieur  de  Cadillac,  what  have 
you  to  say  to  this?  " 

During  this  fervid  protest  La  Mothe  had  straight- 
ened himself  in  his  chair,  and  several  times  made  as 
if  he  would  interrupt  the  Black  Robe  in  no  measured 
terms.  Now,  however,  he  leaned  back  once  more, 
and,  taking  his  pipe  from  between  his  lips,  answered 
with  a  shrug  of  the  shoulders,  and  as  if  half  address- 
ing the  fire,  — 

"What  have  I  to  say?  My  faith,  Monsieur  de 
Carheil,  only  that,  owing  to  the  merciless  cold  and 
the  absence  of  proper  food  in  this  locality,  I  deem  it 
necessary  that  the  strength  of  those  upon  whose  la- 


FIRE-WATER  131 

bors  the  prosperity  of  the  settlement  largely  depends 
should  be  fortified  by  a  small  measure  of  brandy, 
as  often  as  it  can  be  furnished  them.  A  little  eau  de 
vie  would  keep  the  Outawa  trappers  from  contracting 
illness.  If  the  dogs  of  Indians  drank  to  excess,  surely 
I  am  not  to  blame." 

"  Monsieur  le  Commandant,  I  make  no  comment 
upon  your  theory  so  far  as  it  concerns  the  officers 
and  soldiers  of  the  garrison  under  your  command,  or 
their  supposed  needs  as  not  being  acclimated  to  this 
latitude.  For  myself,  I  never  touch  spirits,  believing 
example  to  be  more  potent  than  precept  with  savages 
as  with  civilized  peoples,"  returned  the  missionary. 
"  And,  at  least,  the  drink  which  the  aborigines  so 
aptly  name  '  Fire  Water  '  is  not  necessary  for  them. 
Our  Lake  Indians,  their  fathers  before  them,  their 
grandsires  back  to  their  remote  ancestors,  have  en- 
dured the  rigors  of  this  climate,  the  exposure  of 
extended  trapping  expeditions,  have  broken  the 
ice  of  the  strait  to  spear  fish  for  food,  and  yet 
have  managed  to  exist  without  the  eau  de  vie 
wherewith  you  have  taken  such  trouble  to  provide 
them." 

Cadillac  broke  into  a  short  laugh. 

"  If  you  undertake  to  civilize  the  Indians,  you  can- 
not keep  them  from  the  vices  of  civilization,  any  more 
than  you  can  keep  the  young,  as  they  grow  older, 
from  a  knowledge  of  the  world,  Monsieur  le  Cure". 
The  Hurons  and  Outawas  had  tasted  fire  water  ere  I 
came  among  them." 

"  Now  and  again,  perhaps,  thanks  to  the  cupidity 
of  some  commandants  and  traders,  but  never  as  you 
have  supplied  it." 

"  Oh,  well,  well,"  continued  De  la  Mothe,  with 
a  sneer,  "  what  is  past,  is  past.  If  the  Indians  were 


I32     A   DAUGHTER    OF   NEW    FRANCE 

unable  to  get  strong  spirits  from  us,  they  would  go 
for  fire  water  to  our  enemies.  Since  you  are  so 
grieved,  my  dear  Monsieur  Estienne,  that  they  occa- 
sionally succumb  to  the  seductions  of  our  good 
brandy  of  New  France,  bethink  you  what  would  be 
your  sorrow  to  see  your  zealous  neophytes  seek 
the  encampments  of  our  foes,  not  only  to  drink  deep 
of  English  rum,  but  to  imbibe  freely  of  heresy  as 
well?" 

"  There  is  no  contingency  which  justifies  the  doing 
of  even  a  little  wrong,  Monsieur  de  Cadillac,"  an- 
swered Father  Estienne,  with  dignity.  "  I  ask  you 
again,  is  the  work  of  the  founder  of  this  mission 
and  that  of  the  missionaries  who  came  after  him, 
down  to  this  day, —  is  all  this  to  be  undone?  Have 
we  opened  the  way  for  you  here  only  that  you  may 
set  in  the  path  of  the  Indian  a  temptation  he  knew 
not  hitherto)  that  with  your  accursed  strong  waters 
you  should  debase  him  beneath  the  level  of  the  brute 
creation?  " 

In  a  towering  rage  Cadillac  sprang  to  his  feet. 
"  Monsieur  de  Carheil,  I  will  not  brook  such  speech," 
he  cried  hotly.  "  You  allude  to  the  labors  here  at 
Michilimackinac  of  the  good  Monsieur  de  Marquette, 
whose  memory  is  so  justly  revered  by  savage  and 
white  man.  I  hold  his  name  in  all  honor  and  re- 
spect. I  regard  also  the  zeal  of  those  who  came 
after  him.  But,  as  to  this  matter,  understand  me. 
Your  business  here  is  to  christianize  the  red  men, 
to  impress  upon  them  the  duty  of  obedience  to 
the  Governor  of  Quebec,  and  to  minister  to  the 
spiritual  needs  of  the  white  dwellers  at  this  post,  as 
best  you  may.  With  affairs  not  within  your  province 
I  counsel  you  not  to  intermeddle.  You  pay  no  heed 
to  my  request  that  you  should  teach  the  Hurons  and 


FIRE-WATER  133 

Outawas  the  French  language.  I  furnish  brandy  to 
the  Indians  because  I  think  best  to  do  so.  That  is  the 
end  of  the  matter." 

Notwithstanding  this  outburst  from  the  Command- 
ant, Monsieur  Estienne  retained  his  self-control, 
although  the  flush  that  dyed  his  cheek,  his  com- 
pressed lips,  and  the  fire  of  his  deep-set  eyes  showed 
that  to  do  so  cost  him  an  effort.  "  Sieur  Cadillac,  I 
will  not  contend  with  you  as  to  what  is  or  is  not 
within  my  province,"  he  replied.  "  You  are  the  Com- 
mandant here,  and  I  recognize  your  civil  authority ; 
but  as  to  this  being  the  end  of  the  matter  at  issue 
between  us,  I  warn  you  such  is  very  far  from  the 
case.  You  say  I  and  my  confreres  are  not  in  haste 
to  teach  the  Indians  the  language  of  France,  —  it  is 
because  we  wish  to  preserve  the  Children  of  the 
Forest  from  the  vices  of  the  settlers.  If  you  would 
best  serve  the  interests  of  the  government,  encourage 
the  red  men  to  follow  the  lessons  we  have  taught 
them,  and  they  will  be  your  faithful  allies.  If  you  do 
otherwise,  —  if,  either  for  the  sake  of  personal  gain 
or  commercial  enterprise,  you  continue,  as  now,  ever 
ready  to  quench  the  savage  thirst  you  have  aroused 
with  the  potion  of  death,  the  insidious  fire-water,  — 
if  you  suffer  your  traders  to  rob  the  Indian  of  his  pel- 
tries by  that  unjust  pressing  down  of  the  scales  by 
which  every  Frenchman's  hand  is  said  to  weigh  a 
pound,  —  if  you  permit  them  to  tempt  him  to  barter 
not  only  his  furs  but  his  immortal  soul  for  a  dram, — 
believe  me,  retribution  will  come.  You  may  grow 
rich,  Sieur  Cadillac,  —  ay,  you  will  grow  rich  — 

As  he  spoke,  the  missionary  waxed  abstracted, 
his  bent  form  became  erect,  his  thin  face,  dried  to  a 
complexion  like  leather  from  exposure  to  the  ele- 
ments, took  on  the  rapt,  exalted  expression  I  had 


i34     A   DAUGHTER   OF    NEW   FRANCE 

seen  it  wear  sometimes  when  he  stood  before  the 
altar,  while  his  eyes  assumed  a  fixed,  far-away  look, 
as  if  they  gazed  into  the  future. 

"  Ay,"  he  repeated,  in  the  clear,  well-modulated 
tones  which  the  Indians  loved,  "  you  will  grow  rich, 
Sieur  Cadillac ;  many  leagues  from  here  you  will 
establish  a  fine  colony;  moneys  and  lands  and 
honors  will  be  yours;  but  beware,  there  will  come 
a  day  when  these  honors  and  possessions  will  pass 
from  you,  your  friends  will  turn  against  you,  you  will 
die  in  poverty,  your  children  will  be  penniless,  no  one 
of  your  name  will  remain  in  the  city  you  will  found." 

While  he  uttered  these  last  words,  the  consecrated 
hand  which  the  priest  had  raised  in  warning  dropped 
to  his  side,  the  light  of  prophecy  died  out  of  his  eyes, 
leaving  them  mild  as  before  ;  the  stern  judge  and  seer 
was  gone,  and  again  we  saw  the  humble  missionary. 

"  Monsieur  le  Commandant,  I  have  said  what  I 
came  to  say,"  he  added  quietly. 

Forthwith  he  threw  his  fur  cloak  about  his  shoul- 
ders, drew  the  capouch  over  his  head,  and  heeding  not 
the  explosion  of  Cadillac's  wrath  nor  the  invectives 
which  the  Commandant  hurled  after  him,  flung  open 
the  door,  and  passed  out  again  into  the  darkness  and 
the  sleet,  leaving  as  uncomfortable  a  storm  behind 
him. 

For  a  full  quarter-hour  La  Mothe  blazed  away,  and 
truly  I  never  before  knew  him  for  so  great  a  master 
of  opprobrious  epithet. 

As  for  me,  I  saw  it  was  useless  to  attempt  to  stay 
the  torrent,  the  more  since  his  expletives  being  cast 
against  the  walls  of  the  cabin  hurt  no  one,  as  might 
not  have  been  the  case  had  I  crossed  the  path  of 
their  rebound. 

In  his  excitement  he  had  risen ;   now  he  paced  the 


FIRE-WATER  135 

floor  with  quick  strides.  But  the  fiercest  anger,  like 
the  wildest  tempest,  subsides  at  last ;  wearied  by  the 
force  of  his  passion,  Cadillac  threw  himself  down  in 
his  chair  and  took  to  gloomily  studying  the  fire. 

"  Normand,"  he  said  gruffly,  after  an  interval  of 
oppressive  silence,  "  is  the  door  ajar?" 

"  No,  mon  chevalier,  it  is  fastened  securely,"  I 
answered. 

The  temperature  of  the  room  was  summer-like ; 
nevertheless  he  shuddered. 

"  Pile  on  more  logs,  for  the  cold  must  be  strengthen- 
ing," he  muttered,  and  lapsed  once  more  into  moodi- 
ness. 

A  disquiet  harassed  me.  I  felt  it  to  be  the 
startling  insistence  of  the  missionary's  prediction 
which  had  caused  the  throbbing  fire  in  my  brother's 
veins  to  become  as  ice,  —  the  warning  that  the  crown 
of  his  ambition  would  be  snatched  away  just  as  he 
thought  to  place  it  upon  his  brow. 

In  fact,  as  I  have  many  times  since  reflected, 
never  since  that  night  was  De  la  Mothe  quite  the 
same  as  before.  Often  surrounded  by  the  full  splen- 
dor of  fortune's  sunshine,  he  appeared  to  me  ever 
on  the  verge  of  shadow.  The  sword  which  he  fancied 
hung  over  his  head  might  have  a  jewelled  hilt,  but  it 
was  a  sword  of  Damocles  still. 

For  myself,  from  that  evening  I  saw  many  things 
with  clearer  eyes,  —  would  that  I  could  have  influ- 
enced him  to  see  them  thus  also !  If,  as  the  years 
went  by,  my  devotion  to  our  Sieur  may  have  lost 
something  of  the  glamour  of  its  romantic  admiration, 
I  loved  him  dearly  to  the  end,  and,  I  hope,  served 
him  faithfully.  And  although  I  could  not  but  see 
his  faults  and  deplore  his  mistakes,  I  yet  ever  found 
much  in  his  character  to  esteem  and  respect. 


136     A   DAUGHTER   OF   NEW  FRANCE 

One  evening,  shortly  after  the  occurrence  which  I 
have  just  set  down,  De  la  Mothe  and  I  were  again 
seated  by  the  fire,  he  smoking,  as  was  his  wont,  I 
meditatively  watching  the  blaze. 

After  a  time  Cadillac  stirred  impatiently  and 
knocked  the  ashes  from  his  pipe. 

"  Normand,"  he  exclaimed  with  abruptness,  break- 
ing in  upon  my  reverie,  "  how  did  the  man  know?" 

"Who? — what,  mon  chevalier?"  I  asked  with  a 
start,  as  if  suddenly  awakened. 

"Ha,  ha,  ha!"  he  laughed  in  his  debonair  man- 
ner. "  Did  I  arouse  you  from  a  doze?  Or  were  your 
thoughts  perchance  dancing  attendance  upon  some 
fair  but  hard-hearted  demoiselle  of  Quebec  or  Mon- 
treal? Ah,  I  see  you  do  not  relish  the  jest,"  he  went 
on,  noting  my  shrug  of  annoyance,  "  and  in  truth  I 
am  in  no  mood  for  mirth,  my  thoughts  have  been  on 
weightier  matters.  One  thing  puzzles  me.  How 
came  the  man  to  be  so  familiar  with  my  dreams,  my 
ambitions?" 

As  he  spoke,  he  pointed  with  his  thumb  in  the 
direction  of  the  church  and  the  missionary's  cabin. 

"  You  mean  Monsieur  de  Carheil?  " 

Cadillac  nodded. 

"  'T  is  not  like  that  he  learned  from  me  of  any 
plan  of  yours,"  I  answered,  as  my  brother  continued 
to  regard  me,  I  fancied,  with  a  certain  reproach. 
"  Even  had  I  the  will  to  betray  your  confidence,  I 
know  not  any  projects  you  may  have  for  the  future." 

"Nor  did  I  tell  any  one,"  murmured  our  Sieur; 
"  yet,  wittingly  or  not,  he  fathomed  the  desire  of 
my  heart,  the  design  I  have  had  in  view  for  many 
a  day." 

"  It  was  but  a  random  shot,  a  surmise  based  upon 
his  knowledge  of  your  tireless  activity  and  your  re- 


FIRE-WATER  137 

sources,  as  well  as  the  value  of  your  services  to  the 
government." 

"  Perchance.  But  it  is  a  strange  coincidence,"  he 
continued.  "  Listen,  Normand !  Do  not  think  I 
meant  to  doubt  you.  You  have  ever  been  faithful  to 
me,  and  now  I  would  fain  know  how  the  scheme  I 
have  in  mind  would  impress  a  man  still  young,  cour- 
ageous, and  fond  of  adventure  as  you  are,  since  I 
shall  have  need  of  followers  of  this  order. 

"  You  know  that  some  ten  years  ago  Monsieur  de 
Lhut,  then  Commandant  at  Michilimackinac,  erected 
a  fortified  trading-post  at  the  southern  extremity  of 
our  Lake  of  the  Hurons,  which  he  called  Fort  St. 
Joseph.  You  are  also  aware  that  it  was  abandoned 
two  years  later,  with  insufficient  reason  to  my  think- 
ing, for  the  climate  proved  milder  than  it  is  here, 
while  the  situation  was  very  favorable,  being  at  the 
first  link,  I  may  say,  of  that  beautiful  chain  of  lake 
and  river  which  connects  the  five  marvellous  Inland 
Seas,  which  our  intrepid  explorers  have  given  to 
New  France,  together  with  the  greater  part  of  the 
vast  territory  that  borders  upon  them. 

"  However,  well  chosen  as  was  the  position  of 
Du  Lhut's  trading-fort,  I  have  in  mind  a  better  site. 
You  have  heard  how,  long  since,  the  missionaries 
Dollier  de  Casson  and  Galinee,  and  after  them  the 
gallant  Chevalier  de  la  Salle,  followed  up  this  con- 
necting chain  of  waters  from  Fort  Frontenac.  They 
found  it  as  richly  set  with  islands  as  is  a  queen's 
necklace  with  jewels,  and  the  beautifully  verdant 
shores  of  the  mainland  served  to  complete  the  pic- 
ture of  a  veritable  earthly  paradise. 

"Especially  attractive  was  the  region  which  lies 
south  of  the  pearl-like  lake  to  which  they  gave  the 
name  of  St.  Claire,  the  country  bordering  upon  that 


138     A   DAUGHTER   OF   NEW   FRANCE 

clear,  deep  river,  a  quarter  league  broad,  known  as 
Le  Detroit. 

"I  have  had  from  the  Indians  and  the  coureurs  de 
bois  glowing  descriptions  of  this  fair  locality,  and 
while  affecting  to  treat  their  accounts  with  indiffer- 
ence, I  made  note  of  all  in  my  mind. 

"  On  both  sides  of  this  strait  of  straits  lie  fine  open 
plains  where  the  deer  roam  in  graceful  herds,  where 
bears  (by  no  means  fierce,  and  exceedingly  good  to 
eat)  are  to  be  found,  as  are  also  the  savory 
1  poules  d'Indes,'  wild  duck,  and  other  varieties  of 
game.  The  islands  are  covered  with  trees;  chest- 
nuts, walnuts,  apples,  and  plums  abound,  and  in 
the  season  the  wild  vines  are  heavy  with  grapes, 
of  which  the  forest  rangers  say  they  have  made  a 
wine  that,  considering  its  newness,  was  not  at  all 
bad. 

"  What  think  you,  Normand,  do  not  all  these  excel- 
lences make  the  place  a  happy  choice  for  a  settle- 
ment? Stay,  ere  you  answer  I  will  dwell  upon  far 
greater  considerations. 

"The  Hurons  have  a  village  on  Le  Detroit; 
they  see,  according  to  their  needs,  its  advantages. 
Normand,  Michilimackinac  is  an  important  post, 
but  the  climate  will  ever  be  against  it,  the  place  will 
never  become  a  great  settlement.  Le  Detroit  is  the 
real  centre  of  the  Lake  Country,  the  gateway  to  the 
west.  It  is  from  there  we  can  best  hold  the  English 
in  check," 

"And  what  would  you  do  at  Le  Detroit?"  I 
asked,  still  only  half  recovered  from  my  surprise. 

"  I  would  make  it  a  permanent  post,  not  subject  to 
changes,  as  are  so  many  of  the  others,"  he  replied, 
his  enthusiasm  kindling.  "  To  do  this,  it  is  but  neces- 
sary to  have  a  good  number  of  the  French,  soldiers 


FIRE-WATER  139 

and  traders,  and  to  draw  around  it  the  tribes  of 
friendly  Indians,  in  order  to  conquer  the  Iroquois, 
who  from  the  beginning  have  harassed  us  and  pre- 
vented the  advance  of  civilization.  The  French  live 
too  far  apart;  we  must  bring  them  together,  that 
when  necessary  they  may  be  able  to  oppose  a  large 
force  to  the  savages  and  thus  defeat  them." 

"  Yes,  to  be  sure,"  I  made  answer,  "  if  Le  Detroit 
were  well  fortified,  we  could  prevent  the  Iroquois 
from  following  the  chase  thereabouts,  and  thus  drive 
them  away  from  this  upper  country  also." 

"  I  see  that  you  take  my  meaning,"  said  Cadillac, 
approvingly.  "  Moreover,  look  you,  the  waters  of 
the  Great  Lakes  pass  through  this  strait,  and  it  is 
the  only  path  whereby  the  English  can  carry  on 
their  trade  with  the  savage  nations  who  have  to  do 
with  the  French.  If  we  establish  ourselves  at  Le 
Detroit,  they  can  no  longer  hope  to  deprive  us  of 
the  benefits  of  the  fur  trade." 

"  But  how  will  you  prevent  the  savages  from  going 
to  the  southrons,  since  they  can  get  more  for  their 
peltries  from  them  than  from  us?  "  I  argued. 

"Now,  Normand,"  cried  La  Mothe,  with  impa- 
tience, "do  you  not  know  that  at  Quebec  and 
Montreal,  although  the  Indian  can  exchange  goods 
at  a  lower  price  with  our  enemies,  he  prefers  to  make 
his  trade  with  us.  This  is  partly,  no  doubt,  because 
he  is  neighbor  to  the  Frenchman,  and  frequently 
borrows  from  him,  paying  in  returns  from  the  chase. 
Then,  too,  the  English  are  farther  away.  Still,  I  ad- 
mit, if  the  post  at  Le  Detroit  is  not  founded  we  shall 
soon  see  all  of  our  Indians  going  to  our  competitors, 
or  inviting  them  into  the  Indian  country.  Once 
there,  however,  we  would  divert  the  trade  of  that 
southern  region  to  our  own  colony." 


i4o     A   DAUGHTER    OF   NEW   FRANCE 

"  The  post  appears  an  absolute  necessity,"  I  said. 
"  What  measures  will  you  take  now,  mon  chevalier?  " 

"  Having  considered  it  well  in  my  mind,  I  am 
about  to  write  to  Governor  Frontenac  to  lay  the  plan 
before  him.  I  shall  request  him  to  recall  me  to  Que- 
bec, that  I  may  explain  everything  to  him  in  detail. 
I  shall  need  your  help  to  take  down  notes  of  what 
I  wish  to  say,  and  also  to  make  copies  of  the  missive 
and  other  documents  when  they  are  finished.  It  is 
for  this  reason  I  have  spoken  to  you  somewhat  freely 
on  the  subject.  Get  pens  and  paper,  and  we  will  set 
about  our  letter-writing  to-night." 


CHAPTER   ELEVENTH 

A  GREAT  SURPRISE 

IT  was  with  a  light  heart  that  I  undertook  this 
work,  and  cheerfully  toiled  with  my  quill  all  the 
next  day  as  well,  until  the  letter  and  papers  con- 
nected therewith  were  completed.  After  they  were 
despatched  by  a  trusted  coureur  de  bois,  how  long 
seemed  the  time  ere  the  answer  could  reach  us ! 

At  length,  however,  the  messenger  returned. 
Comte  Frontenac  graciously  consented  to  relieve 
De  la  Mothe  from  his  duties  at  the  post,  and  stated 
that  he  had  already  despatched  the  Baron  Alphonse 
de  Tonty  to  succeed  him. 

Verily,  I  could  not  but  laugh  when  I  thought  of 
Monsieur  de  Tonty's  suave  Italian  manners  wasted 
upon  the  roughness  of  this  isolated  settlement. 

With  him  came  Lieutenant  Sabrevois,  who,  still  a 
bachelor,  perchance  because  of  his  early  fancy  for 
Therese,  had  nevertheless  been  much  attracted  to 
little  Barbe  ere  I  came  away,  and  had,  in  truth,  made 
application  to  my  uncle  Guyon  as  a  suitor  for  her 
hand. 

One  morning,  shortly  after  the  arrival  of  the  new 
Commandant,  I  brought  to  him  the  books  of  the  post, 
the  which  he  asked  me  forthwith  to  explain  to  Mon- 
sieur de  Sabrevois.  Ere  we  began  our  task,  I  felt  it 
incumbent  upon  my  courtesy  to  express  to  the  lieu- 
tenant my  felicitations  at  his  promotion. 


i42     A   DAUGHTER    OF    NEW    FRANCE 

Whether  the  honor  conferred  upon  him  by  the 
Governor  had  turned  his  head,  or  because  he  had 
some  grudge  against  me,  I  do  not  know,  but  he  re- 
ceived my  civilities  very  ill. 

"  Thanks,  Monsieur  Guyon,"  he  answered  with  a 
supercilious  haughtiness  which  would  have  been 
laughable  had  it  not  so  nettled  me.  "  The  appoint- 
ment may  seem  a  great  advancement  to  the  eyes  of  a 
young  man  like  you,  one  who  is  unknown  and  has 
his  way  to  make ;  but  it  is  scarce  to  be  reckoned  a 
gain  by  a  cavalier  of  position  who  has  seen  much  of 
life  and  manners.  Of  a  truth  I  found  it  not  to  my 
liking." 

The  arrogant  air  of  the  braggart  as  he  stood  smil- 
ing before  me,  and  the  taunt  conveyed  in  his  speech 
caused  my  anger  to  leap  forth  as  does  a  flame  from 
a  covered  and  smouldering  fire. 

"  Tee !  I  understand  and  might  have  expected  as 
much  from  your  great  valor,  Monsieur  le  Lieutenant," 
I  made  answer. 

"  Monsieur,  you  flatter  me,"  he  said  with  an  ironical 
bow. 

"  Nevertheless,  to  be  an  officer  in  Quebec  and  a 
soldier  in  the  Northwest  are  r61es  that  sometimes  re- 
quire different  qualifications,  monsieur.  To  dine  at 
the  Chateau  is  one  thing,  to  face  a  horde  of  hostile 
savages  is  quite  another  matter,"  I  continued  in  the 
vein  of  sarcasm  I  had  picked  up  from  my  close  asso- 
ciation with  our  Sieur,  who  was  "  to  the  manner  born," 
as  the  English  say. 

Sabrevois'  sword  flashed  forth  therewith. 

"  Monsieur,  take  back  your  words,  or  I  will  make 
you  eat  them,"  he  cried. 

"  Monsieur,  you  can  best  stomach  them,"  I  rejoined, 
whipping  out  my  own  rapier. 


A   GREAT   SURPRISE  143 

Our  weapons  met  with  a  clash,  and  the  next 
moment  we  were  fighting  as  those  fight  between 
whom  there  is  a  bitter  feud. 

We  were  of  about  the  same  weight,  but  Sabrevois 
still  maintained  his  reputation  as  one  of  the  best 
blades  of  his  regiment.  No  doubt  he  thought  me  an 
antagonist  unworthy  of  his  skill,  yet  therein  he  was 
mistaken.  Having  practised  much  with  our  Sieur,  I 
had  acquired  a  facility  in  fence ;  in  fact,  so  well 
pleased  was  my  brother  with  his  pupil  that  he  was 
wont  to  say  he  would  match  me  against  any  swords- 
man in  New  France. 

Soon  the  lieutenant  discovered  how  greatly  he  had 
underrated  my  dexterity,  even  though  he  tried  my 
steel  most  cleverly.  The  advantage  lay  first  with 
one,  then  with  the  other ;  but  ere  many  seconds  he 
began  to  turn  and  thus  lost  ground.  I  gained  by  this 
and  pressed  him  near  to  the  wall ;  he  forced  his  way 
out;  I  drove  him  back.  We  circled  round ;  he  grew 
hot,  more  angered,  and  short  of  breath.  I  kept  my 
head,  and  my  coolness  served  me  well.  Once  he 
nearly  pricked  me ;  but  I  parried  the  thrust,  and  pres- 
ently lunging,  touched  his  breast. 

"It  is  enough,  monsieur,"  I  said,  as  he  sprang 
backward,  for  I  had  no  mind  to  seriously  wound  him ; 
"  your  honor  and  my  humor  are  satisfied." 

"  Nay,  't  is  but  a  scratch,"  he  cried,  enraged,  and  we 
closed  once  more. 

Now,  however,  there  occurred  an  interruption  upon 
which  we  had  neither  of  us  reckoned.  A  third  rapier 
smote  between  our  blades,  striking  them  up  so  sharply 
that  Sabrevois'  flew  from  his  grasp,  while  I,  turning 
quickly  to  meet  a  new  adversary,  beheld  the  saturnine 
countenance  of  De  Tonty  scowling  upon  me. 

"  Hold,  I  pray  you,  gentlemen,"  he  said  severely. 


I44     A   DAUGHTER   OF   NEW   FRANCE 

"  A  sorry  example  it  is  to  the  savages  to  see  the  new 
Commandant's  first  lieutenant  crossing  swords  with 
the  secretary  of  Monsieur  de  Cadillac." 

As  he  spoke,  he  pointed  to  the  windows  through 
which  peered  the  leering  faces  of  some  six  or  eight 
dusky  warriors. 

With  dignity  I  sheathed  my  weapon,  while  the 
lieutenant  regained  his. 

"  Perhaps  now  Monsieur  Guyon  will  hear  me  out 
upon  the  subject  of  our  difference,"  he  began  lightly. 
"  Know  then,  monsieur,  only  the  call  of  duty  could 
have  induced  me  to  leave  Quebec,  for  I  have  been  but 
recently  married  to  the  most  charming  demoiselle  of 
New  France." 

Much  to  my  own  discomfiture  and  surprise,  for  a 
moment  my  heart  seemed  to  cease  beating;  then  the 
blood  rushed  to  my  face.  Our  coureur  de  bois  had 
spent  his  leisure  at  the  wine-shops  or  about  his  own 
affairs,  and  brought  us  no  news  from  home  beyond  a 
hasty  screed  from  Therese  to  Cadillac,  a  few  lines 
taken  up  with  expressions  of  happiness  at  the  hope 
of  soon  seeing  him.  One  bit  of  information  he  had, 
however,  obtained.  "  Mademoiselle  Barbe  Guyon  was 
away,"  he  said.  "  Mayhap  she  was  at  Vercheres,  or 
it  may  be  up  at  Montreal.  He  had  heard  she  was 
about  to  be  married,  or  perhaps  she  was  already  mar- 
ried, he  could  not  remember." 

Was  it  possible  that  she  had  married  Sabrevois? 
Yet  why  not?  Although  getting  on  to  middle  age, 
was  he  not  regarded  as  one  of  the  best  "  parti "  in 
Quebec,  a  man  of  excellent  lineage  and  some  fortune? 
What  mattered  it  that  with  me,  no  more  than  with 
Cadillac,  he  had  never  chimed?  Is  it  not  well  for 
most  of  us  that  a  woman  does  not  see  a  man's  char- 
acter as  his  fellows  see  it?  If  there  is  good  in  him, 


A   GREAT  SURPRISE  145 

she  finds  and  fosters  it  with  her  love,  God  bless  her, 
and  causes  it  to  shine  forth  at  last,  while  the  evil  she 
holds  in  check,  and  weeps  over  in  secret,  and  in  part 
atones  for  by  her  wifely  prayers.  So  Barbe  had  mar- 
ried Sabrevois ;  and  a  moment  since  I  was  like  to 
have  given  him  a  wound  that  would  have  gone  hard 
with  him. 

"  In  sooth,  monsieur,  you  are  slow  to  offer  your 
congratulations,"  he  proceeded. 

"  Monsieur  Sabrevois,"  I  replied,  with  an  effort 
mastering  my  choler,  "  pardon  my  hesitation,  but 
since  you  have  not  acquainted  me  with  the  name 
of  the  fair  demoiselle  upon  whom  you  have  conferred 
the  honor  of  your  alliance,  I  know  not  if  you  are 
to  be  congratulated;  whereas,  knowing  you  — "  I 
paused  significantly. 

"  Ho,  ho,  ho,"  he  laughed  in  derisive  triumph. 
"  You  are  severe,  but  I  forgive  the  jest,  since  we  may 
not  now  fight  out  our  quarrel.  Another  day — " 

"  Monsieur,  I  am  waiting  to  hear  the  name  of  your 
bride,  and  I  pray  she  may  not  be  made  a  widow  over 
soon,"  I  responded,  striving  to  speak  quietly. 

He  gave  me  a  quick  look,  and  finding  it  better 
policy  to  provoke  me  no  further,  said,  — 

"  Thanks  for  your  interest,  monsieur.  It  affords 
me  pleasure  to  inform  you  that  a  few  weeks  since  I 
was  married  at  Boucherville  to  your  cousin  Mademoi- 
selle Jeanne  Boucher.  Mademoiselle  Guyon  was  at 
the  wedding." 

And  now,  indeed,  I  could  almost  have  killed  him 
for  the  mocking  mirth  with  which  he  greeted  my 
chagrin.  Had  he  run  me  through  with  his  sword,  I 
could  not  have  felt  more  thoroughly  defeated.  But 
at  least  I  had  the  wisdom  to  see  the  folly  of  my  irrita- 
bility,—  I  who  had  been  trained  in  the  gentle  spirit  of 


146     A   DAUGHTER   OF   NEW    FRANCE 

St.  Francis.  So  making  my  compliments  to  the  lieu- 
tenant upon  his  recent  nuptials  with  the  best  grace  I 
could  muster,  and  saying  to  Monsieur  de  Tonty  that, 
having  delivered  to  him  the  books  of  accounts,  I  must 
beg  to  consider  myself  quit  of  all  responsibility  re- 
garding them,  I  strode  from  the  cabin. 

Later,  however,  it  seemed  to  me  that  mayhap,  after 
all,  I  came  not  so  badly  out  of  the  affair  with  Sabre- 
vois.  He  had  chosen  to  make  sport  of  my  cousinly 
regard  for  a  certain  demoiselle,  but  perchance  'twas 
done  to  ease  an  old  hurt  to  his  pride  which  on  occa- 
sion galled  him,  since  'twas  Mademoiselle  Barbe 
Guyon  whom  he  would  have  married  had  he  been  so 
fortunate  as  to  win  her. 

Soon  after,  with  our  Sieur  I  left  Michilimackinac. 
Ah,  how  good  it  was  to  get  back  to  the  weather- 
beaten  crag  of  Quebec  once  more ! 

It  is  true,  there  grief  awaited  me.  My  father,  Denys 
Guyon,  had  died  during  our  stay  at  the  Fort  of  the 
Upper  Lakes,  and  now  every  spot  which  had  been 
associated  with  him  seemed  haunted  by  his  dear 
familiar  presence. 

But  if  many  things  were  changed,  I  still  found  much 
to  cheer  me  at  home.  My  sweet  sister,  Madame 
Cadillac,  was  kind  and  affectionate  as  ever ;  my  uncle 
Guyon  as  bluff  and  hearty ;  and  Barbe?  Well,  when  a 
man  has  lived  more  than  three  years  amid  the  soli- 
tudes of  Nature,  shut  in  by  the  snows  and  ice  during 
the  winter  and  the  leafage  of  the  primeval  forests  in 
summer,  he  is  not  prone  to  cavil  at  a  woman's  rippling 
laughter,  or  to  murmur  because  she  makes  lighter  the 
hearts  of  those  about  her  by  her  merry  badinage. 

Although  she  coquetted  with  her  cavaliers  much 
after  her  old  fashion,  there  was  oftener  to  be  remarked 
in  her  that  air  of  sweet  dignity  whereof  I  had  seen 


A   GREAT  SURPRISE  147 

glimpses  in  her  early  girlhood.  Our  dear  Barbe  was 
no  longer  but  a  piquant  maiden,  like  our  garden 
flowers  growing  taller  day  by  day;  she  had  become 
a  graceful,  gracious,  and  most  lovely  woman. 

Indeed,  my  aunt  Guyon  confided  to  me  that  in  the 
wedding-chest  which  she  had  for  years  been  preparing 
against  the  marriage  day  of  this  daughter  of  her  heart, 
there  were  now  stored  away  full  twenty  spoons  of 
silver,  each  spoon  denoting  a  year  of  the  age  of  our 
pretty  demoiselle,  as  near  as  it  could  be  reckoned. 

That  mademoiselle  would  have  been  annoyed  at 
the  fond  mother's  loquacity,  I  feel  sure ;  but  I  be- 
trayed not  the  good  dame's  confidence,  while  making 
a  mental  note  of  the  same. 

Barbe  often  tantalized  me  still.  She  listened  with 
more  respect  to  what  I  had  to  say,  however,  and  re- 
membering that  she  had  managed  very  well  in  regard 
to  Sabrevois,  I  forbore  to  take  her  to  task  on  the 
subject  of  her  lovers;  so  there  was  less  friction 
between  us  than  formerly. 

Our  illustrious  Comte  Frontenac  was  now  in  his 
last  days,  and  everywhere  I  saw  old  differences  for- 
gotten, in  the  attachment  manifested  for  the  fiery  and 
lion-hearted  soldier,  by  the  people  of  all  ranks,  from 
the  Bishop  down  to  the  poorest  orphan  whom  he  had 
befriended. 

But  if  a  glorious  sun  was  setting,  the  star  of  our 
Sieur  was  mounting  higher  in  the  skies  of  New 
France.  One  afternoon  he  came  home  from  the 
Castle  in  high  spirits. 

"Normand,"  he  said,  "that  great  man  yonder, 
who  remains  undaunted  even  at  the  approach  of  the 
King  of  Terrors,  Frontenac,  has  entered  into  my  plan 
of  a  settlement  upon  Le  Detroit  with  a  gleam  of  his 
whilom  ardor.  He  bids  me  go  to  France,  and  lay  the 


148     A    DAUGHTER   OF   NEW    FRANCE 

project  before  Comte  Pontchartrain,  before  the  Sun 
King  himself.  The  next  ship  sails  in  two  days.  We 
will  sail  with  her.  I  say  we,  because  many  times  I 
have  promised  to  take  you  with  me  to  the  mother 
country;  now  I  will  keep  my  word.  Make  your 
preparations,  then,  without  delay." 

At  these  words  of  his,  my  heart  gave  a  bound ;  but 
quickly  my  joy  was  succeeded  by  a  strange  sense  of 
mental  depression. 

From  the  day  when  I  first  took  service  with  "  mon 
chevalier,"  it  had  been  my  dream  to  accompany  him 
to  the  Old  World.  Yet  how  contrary  is  our  nature ! 
Now  that  the  wish  I  had  cherished  for  years  was 
granted  to  me,  I  would  willingly  have  foregone  it. 

Never  had  I  been  so  content  in  Quebec,  nor  found 
its  social  life  more  agreeable.  Since  my  coming  from 
the  wilderness,  as  in  the  days  long  passed,  I  was  not 
altogether  averse  to  the  society  of  the  vivacious 
demoiselles  who  visited  at  our  house,  and  Barbe 
bantered  me  much  upon  my  interest  in  her  friends, 
especially  anent  the  beautiful  Madeleine  de  Vercheres, 
my  admiration  for  whom  it  required  no  rare  discern- 
ment to  discover. 

However  I  said  nothing  to  La  Mothe  of  my  new 
and  extraordinary  reluctance  to  fare  forth  with  him. 
And  if  I  bitterly  repented  this  reticence  erelong, 
yet  had  I,  on  account  of  the  beautiful  Madeleine, 
for  instance,  given  up  the  opportunity  to  go  across 
the  seas,  perchance  I  should  have  been  sorry  in 
the  end. 

For  if  a  man  abandons  a  just  aim  or  ambition,  even 
for  the  sake  of  the  woman  he  loves,  the  sacrifice 
leaves  behind  it  a  regret  that  will  grow  keener  as  the 
years  slip  by ;  and  for  it,  in  his  thoughts  at  least,  he 
will  ever  reproach  her. 


A   GREAT   SURPRISE  149 

So  I  went  with  our  Sieur  Cadillac  to  France,  and 
saw  the  fair  land  of  Normandy,  where  my  grandsire 
was  born,  and  the  city  of  Paris,  which  his  Majesty 
King  Louis  the  Fourteenth  has  so  greatly  beautified 
by  forming  squares  and  gardens,  and  erecting  fine 
churches  and  triumphal  arches,  so  that  it  is  become 
the  most  splendid  capital  of  the  world. 

With  my  brother,  too,  I  had  a  glimpse  of  the  Court 
of  Versailles.  Verily,  the  splendors  of  the  New 
Palace  so  dazzled  my  eyes,  that  I  have  never  since 
recovered  from  the  glamour  of  it  all,  albeit  this  is  not 
surprising,  since  its  gorgeousness  surpasses  anything 
Europe  has  hitherto  known. 

And  I  saw  the  King,  ay,  his  August  Majesty,  as 
he  passed  down  the  already  famed  Hall  of  Mirrors 
to  the  Salon  du  Conseil,  where  he  was  wont  to  confer 
with  his  ministers. 

In  truth,  so  surrounded  was  he  by  courtiers,  and  so 
overcome  was  I  by  embarrassment  at  finding  myself 
in  the  vicinity  of  so  much  majesty,  that  (in  my  con- 
fidences to  these  pages,  I  will  set  down)  I  cannot 
form  a  well-defined  picture  of  his  features  in  my 
mind,  often  as  I  have  described  him  to  others.  This 
much  I  observed,  however:  his  countenance  is  hand- 
some, and  his  manner  grave  and  commanding.  It  is 
said  he  has  the  art,  by  his  dress  and  carriage,  to 
appear  taller  than  he  is  of  fact. 

Be  this  as  it  may,  he  of  a  certainty  seemed  to 
tower  above  those  about  him,  and  his  air  was  most 
imposing. 

As  for  the  Comte  de  Pontchartrain,  I  was  present 
at  La  Mothe's  conferences  with  him ;  and  since  I 
aided  in  the  preparation  of  the  documents  relative  to 
the  establishment  of  the  fort  on  Le  Detroit,  I  have 
reason  to  believe  that  the  lines  which  my  obscure 


i5o     A   DAUGHTER    OF   NEW   FRANCE 

hand  penned  with  such  care  were  read   also  by  his 
Royal  Master. 

These  honors  I  had,  and  all  this  magnificence  I 
saw,  and  I  have  never  tired  of  recounting  the  expe- 
riences of  my  visit,  although  on  other  topics  I  am 
considered  a  silent  man.  But  who  is  there  that  would 
not  wish  to  hear  of  the  wonders  of  the  mother 
country,  of  Versailles,  and  of  the  gracious  aspect  of 
his  glorious  Majesty,  who  is  so  often  named,  from  the 
splendor  of  his  court  and  of  his  reign,  the  Sun  King? 

Spring  came,  the  King's  new  Gardens  of  the 
Slysees  in  Paris  had  taken  on  a  tint  of  emerald ;  in 
the  royal  park  and  the  groves  about  the  town  of 
Versailles  the  trees  flaunted  their  fresh  robes  of  deli- 
cate green.  How  I  wished  his  Majesty  and  all 
the  Court  might  see  our  forests  of  New  France,  in 
their  tardy  but  enchanting  springtime  beauty ! 

The  softness  of  the  air,  the  song  of  the  birds,  turned 
my  thoughts  from  the  brilliant  scenes  amid  which  I 
strayed.  More  than  once  I  caught  myself  wondering 
how  near  to  blowing  were  the  anemones  of  the  woods 
about  Beauport,  and  who  among  Barbe's  cavaliers 
would  bring  to  her  the  first  spray  of  the  arbutus  she 
had  always  loved. 

It  was  just  at  this  time,  when  all  the  world  seemed 
most  fair,  that  I  received  intelligence  which  awoke 
me  to  an  understanding  of  my  own  heart. 

How  often  does  news  travel  far  and  wide  ere  it 
reaches  those  most  concerned !  Thus  it  happened 
that  a  report  from  Quebec  came  to  me  by  way  of  the 
isolated  west,  having  been  carried  to  and  fro  across 
the  Canadian  plains,  as  I  have  seen  the  ball  bandied 
in  the  Indian  game  of  la  crosse. 

Monsieur  de  Tonty  had  occasion  to  write  to  our 


A   GREAT  SURPRISE  151 

Sieur  from  Michilimackinac.  When  enclosing  the 
missive,  Sabrevois  had  scrawled  upon  a  slip  of  paper 
a  few  words  asking  information  of  me  upon  some 
clerkly  matter.  As  if  prompted  by  an  afterthought, 
he  added,  — 

"  I  dare  say,  Monsieur  Guyon,  in  watching  the 
grandeurs  of  Versailles,  you  take  small  count  of  the 
news  which  comes  from  Quebec,  that  the  pretty 
coquette,  Mademoiselle  Barbe  Guyon,  has  given 
preference  above  all  her  suitors  to  the  gallant  young 
Le  Moyne,  having  been  married  to  him  at  the  cathe- 
dral some  weeks  since.  But  what  matters  it, 
monsieur?  There  are  other  charming  women  in  New 
France,  as  I  discovered  duly;  and  perhaps  you  will 
not  now  wish  to  run  me  through  with  your  rapier 
for  saying  as  much." 

How  long  I  remained  seated  at  my  writing-table 
in  the  apartment  where  we  lodged,  staring  blankly  at 
the  letter,  I  cannot  tell.  All  I  know  is  that  after  a 
time  Cadillac  came  in  and  found  me  thus. 

"  What  is  it,  Normand?  "  he  asked.  "  Why,  what 
ails  you,  man?  "  and  he  clapped  me  on  the  shoulder 
roughly,  yet  with  kind  intent  to  recall  me  from  the 
daze  wherein  I  was  lost 

"  Have  you  been  wounded  in  an  encounter?"  he 
persisted,  giving  a  rapid  glance  around  the  room,  as 
if  on  the  alert  for  a  concealed  enemy. 

"  No,  no  !  It  is  nothing,"  I  replied,  arousing  myself, 
"  a  mere  prick  in  the  side  that  I  got  at  fence." 

"  Sacre !  You  have  measured  your  skill  against 
the  art  of  De  Liancour,  and  with  rapiers  instead 
of  foils,  as  I  live !  "  exclaimed  he.  "  I  am  proud  of 
your  boldness,  —  or  rashness,  as  others  would  name 
it,  —  my  brother.  I  am  willing  to  believe  your 
hurt  is  not  serious,  although  you  must  see  a  sur- 


152     A   DAUGHTER   OF   NEW   FRANCE 

geon.  De  Liancour  is  a  brave  gentleman  and  would 
not  stoop  to  any  foul  trick.  So  adroit  is  he  that, 
in  a  duel  where  he  meant  not  to  slay,  he  has  been 
known  to  leave  between  his  blade  and  a  man's  heart 
but  the  thickness  of  a  sheet  of  paper.  I  marvel  not 
he  pricked  you  as  a  punishment  for  your  temerity. 
To  think  of  an  unknown  youth  from  New  France 
crossing  blades  with  the  best  swordsman  in  Paris ! " 

I  smiled  grimly  to  myself.  I  had  indeed  fenced 
with  the  Sieur  de  Liancour;  but  although  he  pressed 
me  hard,  with  a  view  to  leaving  me  a  scratch  as  a 
souvenir  of  the  encounter,  I  had  come  off  skin 
whole. 

Nevertheless  I  let  the  matter  go  at  this,  and 
Cadillac  took  up  the  packet  of  papers  whereof  he 
had  broken  the  seal  before  he  went  out. 

"  Oh,  by  the  way,  an  item  of  home  news  comes  to 
us  in  roundabout  fashion,"  I  said  carelessly. 

When  he  had  read  Sabrevois'  scrawl,  he  broke  into 
a  laugh,  crying, — 

"  By  Heaven,  it  is  but  a  rumor,  batted  about  by 
the  wind.  Otherwise  we  should  have  had  letters 
apprising  us  of  the  betrothal." 

"  Perchance  they  are  on  the  way ;  this  billet  names 
the  bridegroom,  and  mentions  that  the  marriage 
took  place  in  the  Bishop's  church,  and  not  at  Beau- 
port,"  I  rejoined  quietly. 

"  Eh  bien,  Normand,  you  at  least  never  paid  court 
to  our  English  demoiselle,"  he  went  on.  "  My  faith  ! 
one  day  she  may  reign  in  the  Chateau  St.  Louis  as 
the  grandest  Lady  of  New  France.  I  marvel  not  you 
disapproved  the  suit  of  Sabrevois." 

"  Barbe  is  no  more  like  to  be  Lady  of  the  Castle 
than  is  my  sister  Therese,"  I  broke  out. 

Brusque  as  was  my  answer,  it  pleased  La  Mothe. 


A   GREAT   SURPRISE  153 

"  Chut,  you  are  a  loyal  fellow,"  he  said  with  his 
rare  smile.  "  But,  in  faith,  it  is  a  noble  alliance. 
Chateauguay  has  graces  of  person  and  manner  that 
would  win  the  heart  of  any  woman.  I  am  glad 
Mademoiselle  Barbe  has  shown  a  proper  ambition, 
too,  in  her  choice  of  a  husband.  For  ambition  is 
the  true  lodestone  of  life.  Look  at  me,  Normand ; 
I  have  drawn  a  prize  in  the  lottery  of  love;  yet, 
pardieu,  Adam  grew  weary  in  paradise,  once  he 
learned  there  were  other  spheres  beyond,  while  Eve 
would  have  drawn  down  the  stars  of  heaven  to 
make  for  herself  a  jewelled  diadem.  A  good  mar- 
riage, yes !  I  trust  others  of  our  family  will  do  as 
well ;  and  while  we  are  on  the  subject,  my  brother, 
I  must  congratulate  you  upon  the  favor  you  have 
found  with  a  certain  fair  demoiselle  at  home.  There 
is  no  finer  seigneury  on  the  St.  Lawrence  than  that  of 
Vercheres,  no  name  in  the  annals  of  New  France  that 
offers  a  prouder  connection." 

"  I  will  never  wed  a  woman  for  her  lands,"  I  said 
hotly.  "  With  all  your  worldly  wisdom,  La  Mothe, 
I  scarce  think  you  considered  the  dower  of  Therese 
when  you  came  wooing  to  Beauport." 

"  Of  a  verity,  I  gave  it  not  a  thought,"  he  returned, 
with  a  laugh  at  the  overthrow  of  his  own  arguments. 
"  But,  well  a-day,  there  is  only  one  Therese  in  the 
world.  Nay,  do  not  contradict  me;  I  am  willing  to 
yield  that  there  is  also  only  one  Madeleine." 

The  next  packet  of  letters  from  Quebec  put  the 
truth  of  the  report  we  had  heard  beyond  a  doubt. 

"  On  the  28th  of  August,"  wrote  Madame  Cadillac, 
"  Barbe,  urged  on  by  my  aunt  Guyon's  loving  com- 
plaint that  the  maid  was  growing  old,  and  unless  she 
made  haste  would  be  forced  to  write  herself  down 
as  '  femme  majeure '  in  the  marriage  register,  — 


i54     A    DAUGHTER    OF   NEW    FRANCE 

Barbe,  to  the  surprise  of  every  one,  on  the  28th  was 
wedded  at  the  cathedral  to  the  noble  Henri  Le 
Moyne,  son  of  De  Longueil  and  Sieur  de  Chateau- 
guay.  An  excellent  match,  is  it  not,  since  the  Sieur 
has  good  looks  and  rich  lands,  and  is  in  high  favor 
with  Monsieur  de  Callieres,  the  new  Governor. 
Moreover,  our  demoiselle  had  given  her  word  to 
Comte  Frontenac  to  take  a  husband  in  Quebec." 

In  the  days  that  followed,  strangely  enough,  I  saw 
little  beauty  in  Paris  or  Versailles,  nor  ever  should  I 
have  recalled  their  first  charm  to  me,  had  not  the 
mist  which  then  hung  over  my  life  been  since  dis- 
pelled by  the  sunshine  of  a  true  woman's  love. 

After  a  short  time,  La  Mothe  announced  that 
his  business  with  Comte  Pontchartrain  was  finished 
and  we  might  forthwith  set  out  for  home.  On 
the  last  day  of  May,  1699,  we  took  horse  from 
Paris  to  Rochelle,  and  sailed  from  that  port  a  week 
later. 

Of  the  voyage  westward  I  remember  little.  The 
seas  were  blue  and  calm,  the  days  clear  and  sunny, 
and  in  the  tranquil  June  evenings  the  moonlight 
shining  upon  the  waste  of  waters  made  the  whole 
ocean  gleam  as  a  mirror  of  silver. 

But  all  the  while  a  storm  raged  in  my  heart,  a 
battle  that  I  was  resolved  to  fight  and  win ;  yet,  as  in 
the  contest  at  fence  with  Wernesson  de  Liancour,  to 
leave  no  one  the  wiser  of  my  victory. 

In  the  home  welcome  I  missed  the  cordial  greeting 
wherewith  our  English  demoiselle  had  ever  met  my 
return,  and  which  now  seemed  to  my  recollection 
wondrous  sweet,  even  if  at  times  I  had  cavilled  at  it 
as  too  careless,  and  at  others  as  over-distant. 

For  of  course  Barbe  was  not  there,  and  my  sister, 
Madame  Cadillac,  was  so  taken  up  with  joy  at  the 


A   GREAT   SURPRISE  155 

reunion  with  her  husband,  that  I  could  get  no  speech 
of  her. 

At  length,  an  hour  or  two  after  our  arrival,  1  said : 

"  Come,  Therese,  let  us  walk  in  the  garden.  I  would 
fain  see  how  near  to  ripening  are  the  cherries,  and  I 
will  describe  to  you  how  the  flower  plots  are  laid  out 
in  the  King's  Gardens  of  the  Champs  filysees." 

Having  reached  the  green  enclosure,  however,  we 
paced  the  path  between  the  trees  once  or  twice  with- 
out speaking. 

Then  finding  me  still  silent,  Therese  said  archly : 

"  Eh  bien,  Normand,  your  stay  in  France  has  made 
you  most  eloquent  and  entertaining.  Have  you  lost 
interest  in  the  cherries  so  soon?  Or  do  our  garden 
plots  so  eclipse  the  royal  parterres  as  to  leave  you 
nothing  to  criticise?" 

"  Pardieu,  Therese,  you  know  I  did  not,  of  a  truth, 
want  you  to  come  out  that  we  might  talk  either  of 
royalty  or  cherries,"  I  answered  testily. 

Madame  Cadillac  elevated  her  eyebrows. 

"  Of  what,  then  ?"  she  inquired  in  pretended  surprise. 

"  Tell  me  of  Barbe,"  I  cried  with  some  heat.  "  Why 
did  you  not  prevent  her  marriage?" 

"  Prevent  it !  "  echoed  Therese,  stopping  short  and 
staring  at  me  in  astonishment.  "  What  has  come  over 
you,  Normand?  It  was  the  best  marriage  in  the 
Colonies  for  Barbe,  and  who  could  have  foreseen 
how  it  has  turned  out?" 

"  How  it  has  turned  out !  "  I  repeated,  catching  at 
my  blade.  "  Barbe  has,  as  you  say,  made  a  great 
marriage.  Nevertheless,  if  she  still  needs  a  protec- 
tor, a  champion  —  " 

Therese  smiled  and  laid  a  gentle  hand  upon  my 
arm. 

"  Bless  you,  Normand,"   she   said.      "  Quiet   and 


156     A   DAUGHTER    OF    NEW    FRANCE 

reserved  of  temperament  as  you  are,  at  times  your 
spirit  flares  up  wellnigh  as  fierce  as  Cadillac's  own. 
But  concern  yourself  not  so  much  for  Barbje  in  this 
brotherly  fashion.  Isolated  as  is  her  home  at  Cha- 
teauguay,  already  have  lovers  found  the  way  thither." 

"  'Sdeath !  "  I  cried,  growing  cold  with  rage. 
"  Hold,  Therese !  Tell  me  that  young  Le  Moyne 
neglects  his  bride,  if  you  must,  —  that  Barbe  is 
wronged  and  unhappy,  but  say  no  more.  For  did 
any  other  woman  say  half  so  much,  of  a  surety  I 
should  strangle  her;  did  a  man  breathe  a  syllable  of 
lying  scandal  against  Barbe,  he  should  never  live  to 
make  his  peace  with  God." 

At  my  wrath,  my  sister  fell  to  laughing  and  then 
to  weeping,  until  I  thought  her  bereft  of  all  sense. 

"  Normand,  Normand,"  she  at  last  exclaimed  be- 
tween her  sobs.  "  No  breath  of  calumny  can  touch 
the  Lady  of  Chateauguay.  Barbe  is  as  good  as  she 
is  fair.  But  did  you  not  receive  the  letter  I  writ  you 
anent  this  whole  sad  affair?" 

"  No  missive  came  from  you  addressed  to  me,"  I 
responded  blankly. 

"Then  there  is  indeed  much  to  tell  you,"  she  con- 
tinued. "  Listen  !  Aunt  Guyon  gave  our  dear  Barbe 
no  peace,  but  said  over  and  again  it  was  high  time 
she  was  married.  The  Sieur  de  Chateauguay  was 
head  over  ears  in  love,  and  a  demoiselle  cannot  but 
look  kindly,  at  least,  on  a  man  who  worships  the 
ground  she  treads  upon.  Thus,  of  a  sudden,  Barbe 
consented  that  the  marriage  should  be  arranged,  and 
the  ceremony  took  place  without  delay." 

"  So  they  were  married,  and  thus  ends  the  story," 
I  said  with  impatience. 

"No,  it  is  not  the  end,"  she  insisted  gently;  "  the 
marriage  was  hastened  because  Le  Moyne's  regiment 


A   GREAT  SURPRISE  157 

was  ordered  out  in  the  expedition  against  the  Iro- 
quois.  Even  on  his  wedding-day  Chateauguay  was 
forced  to  take  leave  of  his  bride,  and  alas,  brave 
chevalier,  —  poor  Barbe,  —  he  was  killed  two  weeks 
later  while  fighting  the  Indians  and  the  English, 
even  as  died  two  of  his  older  brothers  before  him." 

I  stopped  short  and  gazed  at  Madame  Cadillac  in 
a  bewildered  horror.  For  the  nonce  I  forgot  myself, 
so  appalled  was  I  by  the  tragic  fate  of  the  noble 
De  Chateauguay. 

"  Alas,  poor  Le  Moyne !  "  I  said  with  the  same 
impulse  that  prompts  one  to  lay  a  spray  of  laurel 
upon  the  bier  of  a  hero.  And  in  sympathy  for  her 
in  the  ordeal  through  which  she  had  so  recently 
passed,  I  added  softly,  "  Poor  Barbe !  " 

Therese  gave  me  a  sharp,  quick  glance,  and  paced 
beside  me  silently  for  a  few  minutes. 

"You  say  Barbe  is  at  the  seigneury?"  I  queried 
at  length. 

"  Yes,  she  went  there  to  be  in  solitude.  You  may 
go  your  way  to  Le  Detroit,  Normand ;  she  wishes 
not  to  see  you  nor  any  one.  She  was  but  a  bride 
of  a  few  hours,  yet  never  have  I  seen  a  more  grief- 
stricken  widow.  In  his  death  Le  Moyne  seems  to 
have  gained  the  affection  which  somehow  I  scarce 
believe  she  gave  him  living.  She  talks  of  conse- 
crating her  life  to  his  memory.  I  should  not  greatly 
marvel  were  she  to  enter  the  Convent  of  the  Ursu- 
lines;  you  know — " 

"  Therese,  Therese !  Where  are  you,  ma  mie  f  "  rang 
out  Cadillac's  clear  voice  from  the  gallery  that  looked 
out  upon  the  garden. 

At  the  call  Therese  hurried  away,  and  I  was  left 
to  my  own  thoughts. 

Much  had  I  to  meditate  upon.     Small  wonder  that 


158     A   DAUGHTER   OF   NEW   FRANCE 

my  brain  was  in  a  whirl !  Barbe,  yesterday  a  bride, 
and  now  a  widow!  Barbe,  whom  I  had  last  seen  as 
a  joyous,  care-free  maid,  now  bereaved ;  her  pretty 
head  bowed  with  grief! 

Thus  I  mused ;  yet,  alack  for  man's  selfishness,  I 
did  not  now  murmur  to  myself,  "  Poor  Barbe."  Sin- 
cere as  was  my  regret  that  sorrow  had  come  to  her, 
my  heart  whispered  persistently,  "  She  is  again  free." 
And,  for  one  upon  whom  she  looked  as  a  brother, 
my  mood  was  cheerier  than  it  had  been  for  some 
time  past. 

The  blank  in  our  home  circle  caused  by  the 
absence  of  Barbe  was  by  no  means  the  only  change 
we  found  in  Quebec.  The  place  seemed  as  another 
town.  The  great  Comte  Frontenac  was  no  more, 
and  although  our  Sieur  brought  a  letter  from  the 
King  to  the  new  Governor,  Monsieur  de  Callieres, 
the  latter  received  him  but  coldly.  Neither  his 
Excellency  nor  Monsieur  de  Champigny,  the  Inten- 
dant,  favored  the  plan  of  founding  a  trading-post 
upon  Le  Detroit  De  La  Mothe  chafed  at  their 
opposition ;  sometimes,  of  a  fact,  his  irritation  was 
not  easy  to  endure.  Therese  was  often  in  tears. 
T  was  hard  for  her  truly,  since,  much  as  Cadillac 
loved  her,  he  was  ever  fuming  over  some  barrier  to 
his  ambition ;  fretting  at  the  very  delays  that  kept 
him  by  her  side. 

Again  he  crossed  the  sea,  and  in  the  first  part  of 
March  returned  triumphant. 

"  Ah,  Normand,  my  brother,"  he  said  in  reply  to 
my  inquiries  when  I  met  him  at  the  ship,  "  Comte 
Pontchartrain  has  presented  me  with  a  commission 
as  Commandant  of  the  new  Fort,  with  a  grant  from 
his  Majesty  of  land  on  Le  Detroit  wherever  I  judge 
best  to  establish  the  post.  I  shall  proceed  at  once 


A   GREAT   SURPRISE  159 

to   Montreal,  and   there   complete   my  preparations 
for  the  expedition." 

The  sight  of  this  commission  wrought  a  change 
in  the  attitude  of  both  the  Governor  and  the  In- 
tendant.  On  the  eve  of  Cadillac's  departure  he  was 
bidden  to  an  entertainment  at  the  Castle,  and  I,  as 
his  relative  and  secretary,  was  invited  with  him. 


CHAPTER  TWELFTH 

LE  DETROIT 

THE  banquet-hall  of  the  old  Chateau  presented 
a  picturesque  scene  to  the  Governor's  guests 
upon  the  evening  of  this  farewell  dinner.  The  lights 
of  many  candles  shone  upon  the  rare  peltries,  the 
tapestries  and  paintings,  the  antlers  and  deer  heads 
on  the  walls,  and  caught  an  answering  gleam  from 
the  sabres  crossed  above  the  chimney-piece.  The 
table  with  its  fine  napery,  silver,  and  glass,  for  rich- 
ness compared  favorably  with  those  I  had  seen  in 
the  Old  World,  and  around  the  generous  board  were 
gathered  a  company  as  illustrious  as  was  to  be  met 
in  New  France.  There  as  host  sat  Hector  Louis  de 
Callieres,  the  Royal  Representative ;  on  his  left  was 
the  Chevalier  de  Champigny;  in  the  circle  I  recog- 
nized Jacob  de  Marsac,  Dagneaux  Douville,  De 
Montigny,  the  Sieur  de  Repentigny,  Godfroy  de 
Tonnancour,  the  Sieur  de  Lavallee  Rene,  Michel 
Trottier,  Sieur  de  Beaubien,  and  others. 

Monsieur  de  Cadillac  of  course  occupied  the  place 
of  honor  at  his  Excellency's  right  hand,  and  truly  he 
graced  it  well. 

Swiftly  the  time  sped  as  the  wine  went  round,  and 
festivity,  wit,  and  brilliant  repartee  were  the  order  of 
the  hour. 

As  the  mirth  waxed  louder,  my  attention  was 
attracted  by  a  slight  commotion  at  the  door  of  the 


LE   DETROIT  161 

hall,  and  presently  an  attendant  approaching  the 
Governor  said  something  to  him  in  a  low  tone. 

"  Messieurs,"  cried  his  Excellency,  turning  to  the 
company,  "  an  old  sorceress  asks  permission  to  read 
the  future  for  you  ;  shall  she  be  admitted?  " 

"  Verily  yes !  by  all  means,"  rang  the  gay  response 
around  the  table. 

"  Monsieur  le  Gouverneur,  would  it  not  be  well  for 
us  to  change  places  that  she  may  not  recognize  any 
one  by  the  position  he  occupies  at  the  board?"  sug- 
gested Godfrey  de  Tonnancour. 

The  proposal  was  quickly  adopted,  and  when  the 
party  were  once  more  seated,  the  fortune-teller  was 
conducted  into  the  room. 

She  was  a  tall  woman,  almost  masculine  in  appear- 
ance, dark-skinned,  withered,  and  notwithstanding  her 
erect  bearing,  evidently  quite  old.  Upon  her  shoulder 
was  perched  a  crow  with  draggled  plumage.  The 
bird  cawed  shrilly  as  it  found  itself  in  the  midst  of  a 
blaze  of  light.  At  sight  of  this  ugly  and  bizarre 
witch  and  her  familiar  of  evil  omen,  I  must  confess  I 
felt  a  slight  uneasiness,  and  quietly  crossed  the  first 
and  second  fingers  of  my  right  hand  to  ward  off  any 
harm  that  might  threaten  from  the  presence  or 
auguries  of  the  hag,  whose  piercing  black  eyes 
seemed  to  read  the  soul  of  every  man,  as  her  glance 
roved  from  one  to  another  of  the  festive  company. 

"How  are  you  called,  dame?"  demanded  his 
Excellency,  leaning  back  in  his  chair,  and  looking 
as  though  he  half  regretted  having  permitted  her  to 
come  in. 

"  I  am  known  as  La  Jongleuse,"  she  answered  in 
a  voice  that  had  not,  despite  her  age,  entirely  lost  its 
natural  richness. 

"  Well,  sage  woman,  these  gentlemen  are  willing 


162     A   DAUGHTER   OF   NEW   FRANCE 

to  test  your  art,"  continued  De  Callieres,  "  but  I 
warn  you,  read  them  good  fortunes ;  for  here  in 
this  New  World,  where  life  holds  so  many  chances 
and  mischances,  we  like  not  unpleasant  auguries." 

"  I  decipher  what  is  written  in  the  palm  and  on 
the  countenance  of  each  one  who  consults  me,  your 
Excellency,"  replied  the  witch ;  "  it  is  not  for  me 
either  to  add  to  or  alter  what  I  see  there  set  down." 

The  sorceress  proceeded  around  the  table,  and  as 
in  turn  each  officer  with  some  merry  jest  extended 
his  hand  for  her  keen  scrutiny,  she  studied  it  closely, 
following  its  lines  with  her  thin  finger,  sometimes 
breaking  forth  into  guttural  exclamations  of  satisfac- 
tion, again  shaking  her  head  ominously;  nor  did 
the  attempt  to  disconcert  her  by  the  changing  of 
places  prove  in  the  least  effective.  To  each  man 
she  told  some  incident  of  his  past,  or  matters  that 
showed  her  to  be  at  least  marvellously  shrewd  in 
her  divinations,  and  ventured  also  a  prediction  for 
the  future.  More  than  one  of  these  latter  I  have 
since  heard  of  as  verified.  At  last  she  came  to  La 
Mothe,  who  had  dropped  into  the  chair  beside  me. 

As  her  sharp  eyes  peered  into  his  handsome, 
strongly  marked  face,  they  flashed  brighter,  and 
when  he  held  out  his  hand  she  caught  it  eagerly;  at 
the  same  moment  the  crow  fluttering  its  wings 
stretched  forward  and  viciously  pecked  at  him. 

This  attack  was  greeted  by  a  round  of  lively  sal- 
lies from  his  fellow  officers;  but  checking  the  bird  by 
a  tap  upon  its  head,  and  with  a  look  compelling 
silence,  the  sibyl  began  to  read  the  destiny  of  my 
dear  brother. 

Of  what  she  said  I  remember  wellnigh  every  word, 
so  strange  it  was. 

"  Ah,   chevalier,"   she  cried,    "  yours    is,  forsooth, 


LE   DETROIT  163 

no  common  fate.  You  will  soon  undertake  a  long 
and  perilous  voyage  ;  you  will  found  a  great  city; 
lands  and  money  shall  be  yours."  She  hesitated  and 
turned  away. 

"  Stay  !  that  is  not  all,"  urged  Cadillac. 

"  Alack,  monsieur,  I  do  not  wish  to  tell  you  further; 
I  was  to  predict  for  the  gentlemen  only  pleasant 
things,  is  it  not  so?" 

"  Chut,  it  is  my  will  that  you  disclose  to  me  all 
you  can  discern  of  my  future,"  protested  La  Mothe, 
with  impatience. 

"  So  be  it  then,  mon  chevalier,"  replied  the  hag. 
"  Alas,  now  I  see  your  star  obscured  by  clouds. 
Your  colony  will  be  rent  by  dissensions;  you  will 
pursue  a  mistaken  policy  with  the  Indians  and  they 
will  prove  treacherous.  The  English  will  one  day 
possess  your  city.  They  will  tear  down  the  fleur- 
de-lis,  but  their  standard  shall  one  day  be  torn 
down.  Under  a  new  flag  your  city  will  attain  a  pros- 
perity greater  than  will  come  to  any  town  in  New 
France.  You,  however,  will  wander  far  from  it; 
for  a  season  you  will  rule  in  a  land  of  summer, 
but  you  will  die  in  the  country  of  your  birth." 

"  And  my  children,  will  they  inherit  these  estates 
and  riches  whereof  you  speak?  "  murmured  Cadillac, 
half  to  himself. 

"  I  cannot  say  for  certain,"  answered  the  witch, 
cautiously.  "  It  will  depend  upon  your  own  course. 
Do  not  be  reckless  in  your  ambition.  One  day  the 
Nain  Rouge  will  cross  your  path.  Have  a  care ;  if 
you  offend  him,  your  property  will  be  lost  to  your 
heirs,  your  name  will  be  scarce  known  in  the  city 
you  are  to  found." 

"  Merci,  wise  mother,  I  shall  not  forget  your 
warning,"  cried  my  brother  in  gay  good-humor,  as  he 


1 64     A   DAUGHTER   OF   NEW   FRANCE 

pressed  a  coin  into  her  hand.  "  There  is  but  one 
part  of  your  forecast  which  I  do  not  conceive  pos- 
sible ;  namely,  that  the  fleur-de-lis  shall  ever  cease 
to  float  over  any  land  I  may  settle.  By  a  new  flag 
you  would  say,  I  ween,  but  another  Bourbon  banner 
to  replace  the  old,  so  long  shall  it  wave." 

"  A  just  interpretation,  Sieur  de  la  Mothe,"  said 
the  Governor,  graciously,  "  And  now,  gentlemen, 
allow  me  to  propose  a  toast  to  the  success  of  the 
venture  whereof  our  friend  the  sorceress  must  of  a 
surety  have  got  wind." 

"  A  toast,  a  toast !  "  echoed  each  guest,  as  he  sprang 
to  his  feet. 

Once  more  the  silver  cups  were  filled  to  the  brim 
with  the  deep-red  wine,  once  more  they  were  raised 
aloft.  All  eyes  turned  upon  Cadillac,  as  he  stood 
before  the  company,  bold,  nonchalant,  spirited, 
daring. 

"  To  the  future  beautiful  city  of  Le  Detroit,"  cried 
Monsieur  de  Callieres,  with  enthusiasm. 

They  drank  the  toast  gayly. 

"  And  to  the  good  fortune  of  our  brave  Sieur  de 
Cadillac,"  continued  his  Excellency. 

The  sentiment  was  readily  applauded  in  still 
another  bumper  of  Bordeaux,  and  forthwith  the  com- 
pany broke  up. 

The  next  morning,  it  being  the  eighth  day  of 
March,  1701,  we  left  Quebec  for  Montreal. 

Although  I  had  been  at  home  since  the  summer 
before,  on  only  a  few  occasions  had  I  been  able  to 
see  our  dear  Barbe,  or,  as  I  must  now  frequently 
name  her  in  these  memoirs,  Madame  de  Chateau- 
guay.  She  had  lived  in  great  seclusion  at  her 
seigneury  on  the  St.  Lawrence,  coming  down  to 
Quebec  but  two  or  three  times. 


LE   DETROIT  165 

When  the  date  was  set  for  our  departure,  however, 
Therese  sent  a  letter  to  apprise  her  that  Cadillac  and 
I  would  stop  at  Chateauguay  to  bid  her  adieu,  which 
we  accordingly  did. 

So  pale  and  wan  was  she  that  my  heart  bled  when 
I  saw  her  thus,  and  I  told  her  as  much  with  gentle- 
ness,—  I  who  'had  been  wont  to  comfort  the  little 
griefs  of  her  childhood.  I  begged  her,  too,  not  to  be 
in  over-haste  to  enter  the  convent,  as  it  was  rumored 
was  her  intention ;  and  she  so  far  heeded  my  words  as 
to  demurely  promise  that  she  would  consider  well 
before  taking  so  serious  a  step. 

Our  Sieur  and  I  made  the  voyage  to  Ville  Marie 
without  further  incident  of  note. 

Three  months  passed  ere  the  expedition  was  ready 
to  start.  To  avoid  a  possible  attack  from  the  Iro- 
quois,  Monsieur  de  Callieres  had  decreed  that  we 
should  take  the  upper  route,  by  way  of  the  Grand 
River  of  the  Outawas. 

At  length,  on  the  fifth  day  of  June,  we  set  out 
from  La  Chine  with  fifty  soldiers  and  an  equal  num- 
ber of  artisans  and  traders. 

Monsieur  de  Tonty,  who  had  come  back  from 
Michilimackinac,  was  my  brother's  captain;  Mes- 
sieurs Dugue  and  Chacornacle  were  the  lieutenants ; 
Monsieur  Vaillant  came  as  missionary  to  the  Indians, 
and  for  our  chaplain  at  the  post,  I  found,  to  my 
great  joy,  that  we  were  to  have  one  whose  name  has 
been  indeed  long  absent  from  these  memoirs,  yet 
whose  influence  for  good  I  might  write  down  upon 
every  page  of  my  life.  The  dear  friend  of  my  boy- 
hood, Father  Constantin  del  Halle,  was  to  go  with  us 
as  the  first  cur6  of  Le  Detroit. 

As  we  gathered  for  the  start  on  that  bright  June 


i66     A    DAUGHTER   OF   NEW   FRANCE 

morning,  our  little  convoy  of  twenty-five  canoes  made 
a  brave  pageant  on  the  sparkling  waters  of  the  river. 
There  in  the  sunshine  were  the  soldiers  in  their  blue 
coats  with  white  facings,  the  artisans  in  their  blouses, 
the  voyageurs  and  coureurs  de  bois,  with  leathern 
jerkins  brightly  broidered  with  porcupine  quills,  red 
caps  set  jauntily  on  their  dark  heads,  and  upon  their 
swift  feet  gaudy  Indian  moccasins;  the  black-robed 
Jesuit  and  the  gray-frocked  Recollet  missionaries 
holding  aloft  the  Cross  beside  the  banner  of  St. 
Louis;  the  officers  resplendent  in  their  gorgeous 
uniforms  and  white  plumed  cavalier's  hats.  Truly, 
the  picture  they  presented  must  have  delighted  the 
eyes  of  the  habitans  and  dignitaries  who  thronged 
upon  the  green  banks  of  the  stream  to  watch  our 
departure. 

Monsieur  de  Cadillac  was  the  last  to  embark. 
Having  seen  that  all  arrangements  were  complete,  he 
stepped  into  his  canoe  and  it  was  pushed  out  from 
the  strand.  Still,  however,  he  stood  erect,  a  most 
imposing  figure  in  his  azure  habit  with  its  crimson 
sash,  a  scarlet  mantle  thrown  back  from  his  shoul- 
ders, his  sword  by  his  side,  and  the  breeze  stirring 
the  long  thick  locks  of  his  black  hair,  as  he  waved 
his  chapeau  in  a  last  adieu  to  the  friends  upon  the 
shore. 

It  was,  I  think,  one  of  the  most  thrilling  mo- 
ments of  even  his  adventurous  life,  and  as  I  looked 
upon  him  my  own  heart  bounded  with  a  sense  of 
exultation.  Were  we  not  going  to  take  possession 
of  a  new  and  most  fair  land ;  to  plant  a  colony 
whither,  according  both  to  the  missionary's  prophecy 
and  the  prediction  of  the  sorceress,  the  trade  of  all 
the  world  should  one  day  come?  Were  we  not 
going  to  set  up  the  lilies  of  the  Bourbon  at  the  Gates 


LE   DETROIT  167 

of  the  West  and  say  to  the  English,  "  Ye  shall 
come  no  farther  !  " 

With  a  joyous  "  Hoop  la !  "  the  bargemen  bent  to 
their  task;  there  was  a  long  sweep  of  gleaming  oars ; 
another  and  another,  as  though  a  brisk  wind  rippled 
the  surface  of  the  river.  With  light,  strong  strokes 
they  cleft  the  sunlit  current;  freighted  as  were  the 
canoes  with  supplies  and  men,  they  leaped  forward 
like  the  deer  of  the  forest;  on,  on  we  pressed  up 
the  tide,  and  as  we  passed,  the  people  of  the  little 
cdtes  along  the  water's  edge  came  out  to  gaze  after 
the  expedition,  and  to  cry  out  to  us  a  "  Dieu  vous 
sauve,"  and  a  "  Bon  fortune." 

Soon  the  boatmen  broke  into  a  song,  keeping  time 
as  they  rowed  to  the  refrain,  — 

"  Trois  beaux  canards  s'en  vont  baignant, 

En  roulant  ma  boule. 
Le  fils  du  roi  s'en  va  chassant, 
Rouli,  roulant,  ma  boule  roulant, 

En  roulant  ma  boule. 

"  Le  fils  du  roi  s'en  va  chassant, 

En  roulant  ma  boule  — 
Avec  son  grand  fusil  d 'argent, 
Visa  le  noir,  tua  le  blanc, 
Rouli,  roulant,  ma  boule  roulant, 

En  roulant  ma  boule. 

"  Oh  fils  du  roi,  tu  es  me'chant, 

En  roulant  ma  boule  — 
D'avoir  tue*  mon  canard  blanc, 
Rouli,  roulant,  ma  boule  roulant. 

"  Par  dessous  1'aile  il  perd  son  sang, 

En  roulant  ma  boule. 
Par  les  yeux  lui  sort'nt  des  diamantes, 
Et  par  le  bee,  1'or  et  1'argent, 
Toutes  ses  plumes  s'en  vont  au  vent, 
Rouli,  roulant,  ma  boule  roulant, 
En  roulant  ma  boule." 


i68     A   DAUGHTER   OF   NEW   FRANCE 

An  interval  of  steady  work  followed,  and  then  they 
raised  another  folk  song,  — 

"  Nous  e'tions  trois  rnarins ; 
Tra,  lala,  lala,  lidera ; 
Nous  e'tions  trois  marins, 
Qui  allions  en  voyage. 
Oh  gai  1 

Qui  allions  en  voyage. 
Le  vent  nous  a  jetds ; 
Tra,  lala,  lala,  lidera ; 
Le  vent  nous  a  jetds  sur  les  cotes  d'Espagne." 

Thus  with  stout  hearts  and  merry  chansons,  we 
floated  onward  until  the  sun  set,  and  above  its  rosy 
afterglow  the  evening  star  shone  in  the  western  sky, 
like  a  beacon  of  promise  to  guide  us  still.  When  it 
was  nearly  dark,  for  the  moon  rose  late,  the  boatmen 
made  for  a  point  on  the  margin  of  the  stream  where 
there  was  a  little  beach,  and  presently  we  stepped 
upon  the  sand,  and  the  canoes  were  pulled  up  out  of 
sight  among  the  trees  that  skirted  the  shore. 

Here  in  the  thicket  the  men  built  a  fire  and  pre- 
pared our  evening  meal;  and  here,  having  dined,  we 
posted  a  guard  against  a  surprise  from  the  savages, 
and  encamped  for  the  night. 

Day  after  day,  we  continued  our  route,  pressing  on 
during  the  hours  of  light,  and  resting  in  the  darkness 
of  the  forest;  ever  in  danger  from  a  savage  foe,  yet 
ever  looking  forward  with  glad  hearts  to  the  beautiful 
land  of  promise  beyond. 

It  being  the  summer  season,  the  weather  was  for 
the  most  part  clear  and  bright,  and  in  the  evenings 
when  the  moonlight  shone  upon  the  waters,  or 
glanced  lance-like  through  the  openings  of  the  woods, 
one  grew  almost  content  thus  to  woo  Nature  in  the 
wilderness;  but  now  and  again  we  had  days  of  rain, 


LE   DETROIT  169 

with  thunder  and  lightning,  when,  forsooth,  the  jade 
appeared  sullen  enough,  and  we  endured  no  little 
discomfort. 

Often,  too,  by  the  way  there  were  mutterings  and 
complaint,  several  of  the  men  and  one  of  the  officers 
becoming  disaffected. 

The  other  officers  were,  happily,  good  comrades 
and  wasted  no  time  in  idle  fault-finding. 

Among  the  men,  too,  there  were  not  a  few  who  be- 
longed of  right  to  the  estate  of  gentlemen,  —  younger 
sons  of  our  Canadian  seigneurs,  who  from  a  love  of 
adventure  and  a  desire  to  better  their  fortunes  had 
come  to  us  as  bargemen,  voyageurs,  and  even  as  arti- 
sans, albeit 't  was  afterwards  discovered  that  these  last 
must  needs  be  apprenticed  to  their  trades. 

The  voyage  was  not  without  its  pleasures  and  pas- 
times. By  day  there  were  always  new  scenes  to 
charm  the  eye ;  and  at  night,  when  on  the  border  of 
some  grove  or  upon  a  pleasant  island  our  camp-fires 
were  lighted,  Monsieur  de  Cadillac  and  his  brother 
officers  gathered  about  the  cheerful  blaze.  Well  I 
recall  those  hours  when  we  amused  ourselves  with 
gay  conversation  and  reminiscences  of  bygone  days, 
and  my  friends  smoked  many  pipes  of  tobacco. 

The  while,  in  the  men's  camp,  there  were  laughter, 
jest,  and  frolicsome  dancing,  wherein  the  picturesque 
red-capped  forms  of  the  voyageurs  mingled  with  the 
painted  figures  of  our  Indian  scouts. 

From  the  river  Creuse  which  falls  with  rapid  cur- 
rent into  the  Outawa,  we  had  a  land  carriage  to 
another  river,  and  thence  a  portage  of  two  leagues 
to  the  Lake  of  the  Nipicerines.  Again,  on  the  River 
"  des  Francois  "  there  were  short  portages  to  avoid 
the  five  cataracts  of  the  stream.  From  this  point, 
however,  the  navigation  was  easier,  and  in  coasting 


1 70     A    DAUGHTER    OF   NEW    FRANCE 

along  the  Lake  of  the  Hurons  we  met  with  many  fair 
little  islands  which  served  us  for  shelter. 

At  length,  after  the  thirty  portages  we  had  had  in 
all,  the  broad  ocean  of  the  lake  opened  before  us. 
Our  voyageurs  made  objections  to  venturing  on  its 
expanse  out  of  sight  of  land ;  therefore  we  kept 
along  the  eastern  shore,  and  finally,  some  six  weeks 
after  we  had  left  Montreal,  our  small  flotilla  reached 
the  ruins  of  Monsieur  du  Lhut's  abandoned  trading- 
post,  Fort  St.  Joseph.  Having  tarried  to  examine 
the  place,  our  Sieur  gave  orders  that  we  embark 
anew,  and  ere  long  we  entered  upon  the  river  which 
the  Baron  la  Honton  described  to  his  friends  at 
Quebec  as  "  the  Neck,"  but  which  we  now  know  as 
the  upper  part  of  "  the  Strait." 

It  was  a  tranquil  scene,  and  on  either  hand  the 
green,  level  country  stretched  away  as  far  as  the  eye 
could  reach,  except  where  here  and  there  a  forest 
intervened. 

Next  we  came  to  a  curious  place,  a  multitude  of 
half-submerged  islets  where  we  saw  Indians  spearing 
fish,  and  where  wild  ducks  and  other  water-fowl 
abounded. 

We  shot  so  great  a  number  of  the  ducks  that  all 
available  space  in  the  canoes  was  taken  up  with  them. 
Then  we  floated  onward  over  the  placid  waters  of  the 
little  lake  of  St.  Claire. 

Entranced  by  its  peaceful  loveliness,  I  cried  out, — 

"  Ah,  truly,  mon  chevalier,  you  did  well  to  liken 
this  clear  lake  to  a  shimmering  pearl." 

"  In  its  pure  and  retired  beauty  it  forms  to  my 
mind  a  vraisemblance  of  the  Blessed  Claire  in 
her  cell,"  exclaimed  Father  Constantin,  with  pious 
enthusiasm. 

On  the  margin  of  these  fair  waters  we  encamped, 


LE   DETROIT  171 

and  the  following  day  took  to  the  canoes  once  more 
for  the  last  stage  of  our  voyage,  —  a  short  one,  as  it 
proved,  for  after  two  or  three  hours,  as  we  rounded  a 
point  at  the  southern  extremity  of  the  lake,  we  saw 
ahead  of  us  two  islands. 

"  See  yonder,  illustrious  Sieur,  the  two  sentries  set 
to  challenge  our  progress,"  called  Ren6  de  Monteil, 
dit  Sans  Remission,  one  of  the  bargemen,  to  Mon- 
sieur de  Cadillac. 

"  The  island  to  the  left,  in  its  habit  of  rich  verdure, 
puts  me  in  mind  of  the  courtier  in  velvet  who  guards 
the  sleeping-room  of  the  King,"  I  ventured  in  a  low 
tone  to  Lieutenant  Chacornacle,  whose  place  in  the 
boat  was  near  to  mine. 

"  And  that  other  enveloped  in  woods,  has  it  not  a 
likeness  to  a  mysterious  chief  enwrapped  in  the  folds 
of  a  fine  pelt  or  blanket?"  said  Dugue,  leaning  across 
to  us. 

11  Perchance  the  Manitou  of  the  strait  has  stationed 
his  spirits  there  to  forbid  our  nearer  approach  to  his 
resting-place,"  I  heard  the  soldier  La  Girofle  remark 
to  his  comrades  in  a  neighboring  boat. 

"  We  will  render  them  powerless,  if  any  such  evil 
spirits  there  be, "said  Father Vaillant, in  a  loud  voice; 
and  therewith  he  made  the  sacred  sign  over  the 
island,  while  Frere  Constantin  murmured  the  formula 
used  for  the  blessing  of  new  lands. 

We  passed  the  place  unmolested.  Anon,  at  a  sig- 
nal from  our  Sieur,  the  boatmen  rested  their  oars,  and 
the  graceful  canoes  of  elm  bark  drifted  on  the  cur- 
rent, as  with  a  keen  interest  mingled  with  a  feeling  of 
awe  we  looked  before  us  down  the  broad  shining 
river,  the  real  Detroit! 

Monsieur  de  Cadillac  rose  from  his  place  in  the 
canoe  and  surveyed  the  scene. 


172     A    DAUGHTER    OF    NEW    FRANCE 

It  was  a  prospect  to  make  the  heart  thrill  with  joy 
and  thankfulness  to  God,  who  has  made  Nature  so 
surpassing  fair  even  in  her  remotest  retreats  and  who 
had  brought  us  safe  through  so  many  perils  to  this 
beautiful  country. 

The  time  was  about  three  hours  after  noon  on  the 
twenty-fourth  day  of  July.  The  midsummer  heat 
was  oppressive,  but  for  the  nonce,  I  wot,  not  one  of 
the  company  was  conscious  of  it. 

Before  us,  with  the  sun  shining  full  upon  it, 
stretched  the  broad  river,  away,  away,  as  far  as  the 
eye  could  reach ;  in  the  distance  a  glittering  sea  of 
gold  and  silver,  —  near  by  a  swift  current  of  sapphire 
waters. 

On  either  side  of  the  strait  (as  former  voyageurs 
had  told  Cadillac)  lay  fine  verdant  plains  adorned 
with  many  fruit-trees.  In  the  air  was  the  fragrance 
of  the  wild  vines  of  the  grape  and  of  sweet-growing 
plants,  and  at  the  sound  of  our  voices  a  deer  that 
had  come  down  to  the  margin  of  the  waters  to  drink, 
bounded  away  and  was  lost  in  a  clump  of  chestnut- 
trees.  I  was  rejoiced  that  none  of  our  party  got 
a  shot  at  his  sylvan  majesty;  at  the  moment,  it 
seemed  to  me,  the  report  of  a  musket  would  have 
grated  on  the  ear  of  any  man  with  a  love  of  Nature 
in  his  soul. 

And  so  I  think  would  our  Sieur  have  felt  had  he 
marked  the  circumstance. 

But  he?  As  he  stood  looking  down  the  river,  he 
seemed  for  the  moment  as  one  exalted,  so  that  the 
eyes  of  all  in  the  boats  were  turned  upon  him.  A 
light  not  from  the  sunshine  shone  upon  his  face,  and 
his  form  took  on  a  grandeur  as  if  the  archangel 
Michael  had  knighted  him  with  his  celestial  sword. 

For   he  was  upon  the    threshold  of  his   heaven- 


LE   DETROIT  173 

given  inheritance,  and  as  he  bared  his  head  and 
raised  his  eyes  to  the  sky,  I  knew  his  prayer  was 
something  such  as  this, — 

"  O  God,  thou  hast  delivered  unto  me  great  pos- 
sessions. Praise  and  thanksgiving  be  unto  Thee,  and 
blessed  be  Thy  name  forever." 

So  grand  was  his  bearing  that  Chacornacle  whis- 
pered me  'twas  like  a  king  come  to  his  realm;  and 
in  truth,  it  greatly  impressed  all  of  the  company. 

The  moment  passed ;  La  Mothe  looked  down  at 
the  chart  in  his  hand ;  the  captain  of  the  voyageurs, 
who  had  before  come  through  these  waters,  gave 
a  word  to  his  rowers  which  caused  them  to  bring 
him  quickly  alongside  the  bark  of  Cadillac. 

According  to  the  chart,  a  short  distance  below  the 
two  islands,  there  had  once  been  an  isolated  Indian 
village  called  by  the  savages  Teucha-Grondie. 

The  captain  spoke  a  few  words  to  our  Sieur  and 
pointed  to  the  shore. 

Then  we  glided  on,  until,  at  a  favorable  place  on 
the  westerly  bank,  Monsieur  de  Cadillac  gave  the 
word  for  the  beaching  of  the  canoes.  It  was  obeyed 
with  alacrity,  and  anon  the  men  leaped  out  and, 
uniting  in  willing  energy,  amid  laughter,  jest,  and 
singing,  dragged  the  boats  far  up  on  the  pebbly 
strand. 

A  small  number  of  Indians,  Outawas,  and  Hurons 
whose  lodges  were  near,  startled  yet  friendly,  came 
running  down  to  meet  us,  and  we  gave  them  pres- 
ents of  beads  and  cloth  which  we  had  brought  from 
Montreal. 

On  the  crest  of  the  green  bank  all  of  the  company 
fell  on  their  knees,  while  the  missionaries  Del  Halle 
and  Vaillant  with  prayer  and  chant  set  up  the  symbol 
of  Christianity. 


174    A   DAUGHTER   OF   NEW   FRANCE 

Beside  the  Cross  stood  Monsieur  de  Cadillac, 
clasping  the  staff  of  the  Royal  Standard ;  indeed, 
to  my  mind  the  golden  lilies  gleaming  on  their  white 
field  never  seemed  fairer  than  as  the  silken  banner 
floated  in  the  summer  breeze  above  this  oasis  in  the 
wilderness. 

And  now,  as  the  resolute  band  of  officers  and 
soldiers,  voyageurs,  civilians,  and  coureurs  de  bois 
sprang  to  their  feet  once  more,  the  clear  rich  voice  of 
La  Mothe  awoke  the  echoes  of  the  fair  solitudes,  — 

"  I  hereby  take  possession  of  this  site  and  of  the 
lands  on  both  sides  of  Le  Detroit,  from  the  Lake 
of  the  Hurons  to  the  Lake  of  the  Eries,  in  the 
name  of  his  August  Majesty,  King  Louis  the  Four- 
teenth of  France,  for  the  erection  of  a  Fort  and 
Trading-Post  according  to  the  power  and  authority 
granted  to  me  by  the  Royal  Minister,  the  most 
illustrious  Comte  Pontchartrain.  And  in  virtue  of 
the  authority  and  powers  vested  in  me  as  Command- 
ant of  this  same,  I  decree  that  this  Post  be  called 
Fort  Pontchartrain." 

At  these  words  he  thrust  the  end  of  the  staff  into 
the  ground;  the  swords  of  Messieurs  de  Tonty, 
Dugu6,  Chacornacle,  and  my  own  as  well,  flashed 
in  the  sunlight,  and  there  pealed  across  the  blue 
waters,  and  re-echoed  from  the  woods  the  triumphant 
cry,— 

"  Vive  le  Roi !  Vive  le  Sieur  Cadillac  du  Detroit !  " 

"  Thereafter  the  position  for  the  stockade  was  se- 
lected, and  in  the  near-by  groves  the  axes  of  the 
woodsmen  were  soon  ringing,  that  the  first  rude 
protection  of  the  post  might  be  established  by 
night." 

Thus  there  was  work  of  some  kind  for  every  one, 
while  the  sun  sank  to  the  west,  leaving  at  last  upon 


LE   DETROIT  175 

the  face  of  the  waters  a  rosy  afterglow,  wherein  shone 
lights  of  amethyst  and  amber;  and  the  stars  came 
forth,  and,  later,  "the  moon  shone  down  upon  the 
sturdy  band  of  weary  and  houseless  men  sleeping 
upon  the  river-bank,  the  first  white  settlers  of  Le 
Detroit" 


CHAPTER  THIRTEENTH 

PLACE   AUX   DAMES 

THE  winter  that  followed  was  dreary  enough  for 
all  of  us.  Nevertheless  our  small  circle  at 
Fort  Pontchartrain  formed  a  congenial  company. 

There  was  Cadillac  himself,  brilliant  in  conversa- 
tion and  repartee ;  there  was  Monsieur  de  Tonty, 
suave,  elegant,  and  professing  a  devoted  friendship 
for  the  Commandant;  there  were  Dugu£  and  Cha- 
cornacle,  ever  gay  comrades ;  and  Frere  Constantin, 
learned,  accomplished,  courtly,  and  a  model  of  good- 
ness and  zeal  in  his  daily  life.  Monsieur  Vaillant 
and  our  Sieur  unhappily  did  not  chime.  He  was 
for  the  most  part  away  with  the  Indians,  and  arduous 
and  self-sacrificing  was  his  work  among  them  until 
he  was  recalled  to  France. 

For  our  divertissements,  we  officers  had  sword- 
practice  and  singing,  and  as  I  played  a  little  upon 
the  flageolet,  my  music  was  much  in  demand.  There 
were  dancing  and  card-playing  as  well,  and  eau  de 
vie  for  those  that  wished. 

As  for  the  garrison,  and  the  motley  number  of 
artisans,  boatmen,  and  wood-rangers  who  made  up 
the  population  of  our  little  town,  the  older  men 
were  wont  to  gather  around  the  open  fire  in  the 
great  cabins  of  the  Indian  chiefs,  smoking  and  tell- 
ing stories ;  while  the  youths  passed  the  long  even- 
ings in  merriment,  with  dancing,  feasting,  when  the 


PLACE   AUX   DAMES  177 

wherewith  was  to  be  had,  and,  alack,  too  often  in 
carousing. 

The  first  voyageurs  who  came  through  the  strait 
after  the  breaking  up  of  the  ice  brought  news  which 
gladdened  the  hearts  of  those  among  our  officers 
and  soldiers  who  had  left  wives  in  Montreal  and 
Quebec.  Madame  Cadillac,  Madame  de  Tonty, 
several  other  ladies,  and  a  little  band  of  the  soldiers' 
wives,  were  on  the  way  to  join  their  husbands. 

Therese  with  her  wonted  energy  had  gone  to  Three 
Rivers  the  September  before,  and,  having  according 
to  La  Mothe's  previous  instructions,  bought  up  stores 
for  the  journey  there  and  at  Montreal,  had,  with  her 
party,  pressed  on  to  Fort  Frontenac,  where  they 
spent  the  inclement  season. 

During  the  days  that  followed,  the  sentries  who 
watched  the  river  had  a  pleasant  task.  Many  times 
also  did  Cadillac  and  I  wander  down  the  bank  of  the 
stream,  beyond  the  fortifications,  and  gaze  abroad 
upon  the  blue  waters  as  far  as  the  eye  could  reach, 
scanning  the  horizon  for  a  sign  of  the  bateaux  that 
were  bringing  nearer  the  brave,  true-hearted  women 
who,  leaving  friends,  and  kindred,  and  the  comforts 
of  civilization,  were  coming  to  make  homes  in  the 
wilderness  for  those  to  whom  they  were  bound  by 
the  dearest  ties. 

I  too  was  eager  to  see  Therese.  Not  only  did  I 
long  for  the  society  of  my  sister,  but  I  knew  she 
would  be  able  to  tell  me  of  Barbe.  Surely  she, 
whom  still  in  my  thoughts  I  often  called  our  dear 
demoiselle,  —  she  who  erstwhile  had  been  so  light- 
hearted,  so  dependent  upon  the  company  of  her 
friends,  —  Barbe  could  not  live  on  indefinitely  in  the 
seclusion  of  a  lonely  seigneury  of  the  St.  Lawrence ! 
Would  she  return  to  Beauport,  or  to  the  Guyon  house 


178     A    DAUGHTER   OF   NEW   FRANCE 

on  the  Place  d'Armes  at  Quebec ;  or,  more  probably, 
would  she  not  take  up  her  residence  with  the  family 
of  the  noble  De  Longueil?  Yes,  I  was  impatient  to 
ask  Therese  concerning  these  matters. 

Early  one  afternoon,  as  I  stood  looking  down  the 
strait,  my  vigilance  was  rewarded  by  the  sight  of  a 
dark  object  just  at  the  line  where  the  blue-gray 
clouds  and  the  silver  waters  met.  I  might  have 
thought  it  a  wild  duck  which  as  it  flew  dipped  its 
wings  to  the  surface  of  the  stream,  but,  at  the  dis- 
tance, only  a  much  larger  object  would  have  been 
visible. 

The  jovial  Jolicceur  chanced  to  be  the  sentry  of 
the  time. 

"Look,  Jolicceur,"  I  cried.  "What  is  that  dark 
speck  upon  the  river,  —  a  fog  stealing  up  from  the 
Lake  of  the  Eries,  think  you,  or  is  it  the  smoke  of 
an  Indian  fire  blown  from  the  land?"  The  good 
fellow  came  up  beside  me  and  swept  the  horizon 
with  his  gaze. 

"  No,  pardieu,  it  is  a  canoe !  "  he  exclaimed. 

"  Indian  fishers,  perchance,"  I  hazarded,  not  wish- 
ing to  encourage  him  to  give  the  signal  over-soon. 

Presently,  behind  the  canoe  there  came  into  view 
another,  and  then  a  third. 

Jolicceur  called  the  news  in  a  loud  voice ;  it  was 
taken  up  by  the  guard  farther  along,  and  within  a 
few  minutes  every  civilian  in  our  little  town  was 
upon  the  river-bank  watching  the  distant  objects, 
which,  albeit  still  indistinct,  could  only  be  a  flotilla. 

It  was  possible,  however,  that  the  occupants  of 
the  canoes  might  be  Indians,  —  a  party  of  redskins 
returning  from  the  lower  lakes,  or  perhaps  even  a 
band  of  Iroquois  come  with  treacherous  offerings  of 
peace  belts  as  they  had  done  at  Michilimackinac. 


PLACE    AUX   DAMES  179 

Our  Sieur  Cadillac  accordingly  ordered  the  gar- 
rison under  arms.  The  great  bateaux  came  nearer; 
now  a  white  banner  waved  from  the  prow  of  the  fore- 
most craft  as  it  glided  up  the  shining  pathway  made 
by  the  sunlight.  A  sunbeam  kissed  the  flag,  and  at 
the  same  moment  we  beheld  its  golden  fleur-de-lis. 

A  glad  shout  went  up  from  the  spectators  on  the 
river-bank :  "  This  is  indeed  the  little  fleet  from 
Fort  Frontenac !  " 

The  cry  re-echoed  from  the  woods  and  the  oppo- 
site shore;  a  salute  of  welcome  was  fired  from  our 
fort,  the  soldiers  lined  up  to  welcome  the  travellers 
with  military  formality. 

The  canoes  had  almost  reached  the  settlement. 
Monsieur  de  Cadillac  and  his  officers  went  down  to 
the  water's  edge.  I  followed  in  company  with  Frere 
Constantin ;  the  small  throng  of  settlers  pressed  for- 
ward likewise,  and  the  savages  hastened  from  their 
villages,  especially  those  from  the  village  of  the 
friendly  Iroquois ;  for  the  Indians  rightly  regarded 
the  coming  of  these  valiant  white  women  as  an  evi- 
dence of  the  continued  good-will  of  the  French 
towards  their  nations. 

"  Vive  les  dames !  Vive  les  jolies  Canadiennes !  " 
shouted  with  enthusiasm  our  people  on  the  shore. 
Their  exuberantly  happy  greeting  was  answered  by 
the  boatmen  of  the  canoe. 

"  Vive,  vive  !  les  habitans  du  Detroit !  " 

"  Vive,  vive  !  le  Commandant  du  Roi !  " 

Now  we  could  distinguish  the  figures  in  the  canoe, 
—  the  Indian  rowers,  the  sturdy  forms  of  the  Cana- 
dians who  formed  the  escort  of  the  women,  the  happy 
wives  of  the  soldiers.  But  my  gaze  passed  on  to  the 
ladies'  flag-ship,  as  we  had  promptly  named  the  bark 
whence  floated  the  fleur-de-lis. 


180     A   DAUGHTER   OF   NEW   FRANCE 

There  I  saw  Madame  de  Tonty,  buxom  and  comely, 
a  charming  picture  of  a  young  matron  of  New  France, 
with  several  pretty  children  gathered  about  her;  and 
Madame  Cadillac,  handsome  and  graciously  digni- 
fied, as  became  the  wife  of  our  Sieur,  yet  with  her 
old  bright  smile.  Against  her  knee  leaned  little 
Jacques,  her  merry  six-year-old  son,  who  called  out 
lustily  at  sight  of  his  father  and  young  Antoine,  who 
had  come  to  Le  Detroit  with  us. 

How  De  la  Mothe's  stern  visage  lighted  up  as  he 
saw  his  wife  and  boy !  Much  as  I  admired  him  for 
his  natural  air  of  command,  his  haughty  and  even 
arrogant  bearing,  and  the  flashing  glance  that  obtained 
from  all  an  homage  to  his  authority,  I  never  thought 
him  grander-looking,  more  worthy  of  respect,  than 
when  his  proud  countenance  softened  thus  with 
affection  for  his  noble-hearted  Therese  and  their 
children.  But,  my  faith !  my  gaze  strayed  quickly 
even  from  the  countenance  of  my  sister.  For  there, 
just  beyond  Therese,  I  beheld  as  lovely  a  vision  as 
ever  the  dream  of  a  poet  portrayed. 

In  the  stern  of  the  canoe  sat  a  young  woman 
fair  as  the  white  fleurs-de-lis  that  grow  in  our  garden 
at  home  in  Quebec,  her  uncovered  head  crowned 
with  a  wealth  of  light  hair  that  now  shone  golden 
in  the  sunlight;  a  woman  in  the  perfection  of  her 
youthful  beauty.  It  was  she  whose  dear  face  had 
been  so  often  before  my  mind's  eye  during  the  past 
year. 

"  Barbe ! "  I  exclaimed  involuntarily  under  my 
breath;  and  so  great  was  my  astonishment  that  I 
stood  stupidly  staring  at  her,  as  if  she  were  indeed 
an  apparition. 

"  Barbe  !  "  She  was  paler  than  in  the  old  days,  and 
the  gown  of  white  wool  that  she  wore  gave  her  a 


PLACE   AUX   DAMES  181 

spirituelle  appearance  as,  averting  her  gaze  from  the 
curious  stare  of  the  watchers  on  the  river-bank,  she 
looked  down  upon  the  swift  current  of  the  river  and 
trailed  a  hand  in  the  blue  water. 

'T  was  but  one  of  the  little  graces  of  manner,  as 
natural  to  her  as  breathing,  and  yet,  self-contained 
man  as  I  was,  my  eyes  grew  misty  as  I  beheld  her 
thus.  To  the  other  women  this  was  a  joyful  coming 
ashore.  It  meant  the  reunion  of  husbands  and  wives, 
the  re-kindling  of  home  hearth-fires,  the  beginning 
of  a  new  life  with  those  they  loved  best. 

But  to  Barbe?  She  was  come  a  stranger  to  a 
strange  land.  Why  had  she  come  ?  To  escape 
from  the  haunting  sorrow  which  had  doubtless  pur- 
sued her  from  Chateauguay  to  Beauport,  and  thence 
to  Quebec.  Alack,  poor  girl,  did  she  not  remember 
that  grief  had  come  to  her  out  of  the  wilderness? 

"  Babette,  dear  Babette,"  cried  the  boy  Antoine 
joyfully,  after  a  glad  recognition  of  his  mother. 

His  call  aroused  me.  I  sprang  forward  and  reached 
the  canoe  just  as  the  Indians  ran  it  ashore.  There 
were  others  almost  as  swift  as  I,  and  these  with 
glad  welcome  assisted  Therese  and  Madame  de 
Tonty  to  debark.  For  my  part,  having  taken  out 
little  Jacques  and  passed  him  on  to  Jolicceur,  I 
turned  to  Barbe,  and  sweeping  her  a  bow  which 
might  have  satisfied  a  princess  royal,  said,  — 

"  A  thousand  greetings,  fair  cheitelaine."  Then, 
forthwith,  ere  she  had  a  chance  to  protest,  I  lifted 
her  in  my  arms,  as  I  had  often  done  when  she  was  a 
child,  and  carried  her  up  the  beach  to  where  the 
sands  were  dry. 

So  amazed  was  she  that  she  did  not  get  her  breath 
to  say  a  word  until  I  had  set  her  down  again. 

She  was  angry,  I  could  see ;  but  presently  her  amuse- 


182     A    DAUGHTER    OF    NEW    FRANCE 

ment  at  my  impetuosity  gained  the  ascendancy,  and 
she  broke  into  a  rippling  laugh. 

"  Mon  dieu,  Monsieur  Normand,"  she  cried,  waving 
me  off,  and  with  a  degree  of  her  old  sprightliness, 
"  are  these  the  primitive  manners  that  obtain  in 
these  parts?  'Tis  not  surprising  perhaps  to  see  the 
lonely  exiles  of  Le  Detroit  welcome  their  wives  with 
some  ardor;  but  is  not  your  cousinly  greeting  over- 
demonstrative?  " 

I  laughed  too,  perceiving  that  she  was  quizzing  me, 
and  then  kneeling  upon  one  knee,  I  raised  her  hand 
to  my  lips,  saying  respectfully,  yet  with  all  the  gal- 
lantry I  could  summon,  — 

"  Had  I  not  claimed  the  privilege,  an  Outawa  or 
other  rude  fellow,  or  mayhap  one  of  the  other  officers, 
would  have  lifted  you  out  of  the  boat ;  therefore  for- 
give me,  albeit  I  am  not  sorry  for  my  daring." 

"  Eh  bien  !  I  have  not  come  so  far  only  to  quarrel 
with  you,  so  I  must  needs  forgive,  little  as  you  de- 
serve such  clemency,  even  according  to  your  own 
showing,"  she  answered  archly,  and  suffered  me  to 
draw  her  hand  within  my  arm  that  I  might  conduct 
her  up  the  bank. 

But  now  my  brother  La  Mothe  came  to  greet  her, 
and  with  him  De  Tonty,  Chacornacle,  and  Dugue. 

Thereupon  she  gave  them  a  curtsy  worthy  of 
Versailles  itself. 

"  Madame  de  Chateauguay,"  said  Cadillac,  with  his 
grandest  manner,  "  a  thousand  welcomes  to  Fort 
Pontchartrain !  We  are  proud  that  Madame  Cadillac 
has  been  able  to  induce  you  to  accompany  her  to  Le 
Detroit.  Fort  Pontchartrain  is  already  beholden  to 
her  for  so  charming  a  guest,  whom  now  she  bids  me 
to  conduct  to  the  manor-house." 

"  I  thank  you,  Monsieur  de  la  Mothe,"  answered 


PLACE   AUX   DAMES  183 

the  young  chatelaine  with  graceful  dignity,  "  and  for 
the  honor  you  would  pay  me  as  a  guest.  Nathless 
I  have  come  with  Madame  Cadillac  but  as  a  sister; 
therefore  let  not  your  chivalrous  courtesy  and  the 
graciousness  of  the  Seigneuress  of  Le  Detroit  interfere 
with  the  happiness  to  which  you  and  your  lady  have 
looked  forward  so  long.  Lead  the  way  with  her, 
dear  chevalier;  I  will  come  after  with  my  cousin 
Normand." 

Much  gratified  I  felt  in  being  thus  selected  to  dis- 
charge the  duties  of  her  host,  since  she  might  have 
singled  out  either  Chacornacle  or  Dugue,  who  with 
their  military  bearing  and  gold-laced  habits  presented 
a  more  imposing  appearance  than  I,  who,  being  but  a 
lieutenant  of  militia,  and  dispensed  from  the  regular 
drill,  had  not  so  martial  an  air  and  wore  a  less  showy 
uniform. 

In  truth,  however,  all  the  officers  and  gentlemen  of 
the  post  formed  an  escort  to  the  ladies ;  and  well  did 
the  little  settlement  look  as  we  entered  it,  for  the 
soldiers  and  settlers,  in  preparation  for  this  hour,  had 
hung  streamers  of  cloth  of  many  colors  across  the 
street  of  Ste.  Anne,  strung  garlands  of  evergreen 
along  the  galleries  of  the  rude  houses  from  one 
rustic  column  to  another,  and  set  young  spruce- 
trees  as  sentinels  before  the  doors. 

The  drummer  of  the  fort  beat  a  gay  tattoo,  the 
bugler  blew  a  merry  blast  of  his  horn,  the  procession 
that  followed  on  gave  many  a  cheer. 

Thus  it  was  that  Madame  Cadillac  entered  upon 
her  life  at  Le  Detroit.  And  thus  did  the  lovely  Cha- 
telaine of  Chateauguay  come  into  my  life  again ;  the 
more,  since  I  soon  found  that,  despite  her  present 
wealth  and  distinguished  position,  she  was  still  the 
same  true-hearted  Barbe  as  of  old,  pensive  at  times, 


1 84     A    DAUGHTER   OF    NEW    FRANCE 

and    more   stately   than    in    other    days,    but    again 
piquant  and  sportive  as  in  her  girlhood. 

And  often  it  seemed  to  me  strange  that  Barbe,  al- 
though of  English  birth,  should  possess  the  vivacity 
and  charm  of  the  grandes  dames  of  France,  while  I, 
of  Norman  stock,  should  be  of  a  grave,  dreamy,  and 
somewhat  melancholy  disposition.  But  so  it  was, 
which  only  goes  to  show  that  temperament  is  not 
always  a  matter  of  nationality. 

Marvellous  was  the  change  which  the  coming  of 
the  ladies  and  the  soldiers'  wives  made  in  the  settle- 
ment. The  cabins,  which  hitherto  had  been  but 
places  of  shelter  or  revelling,  now  took  on  the 
brightness  of  homes.  The  men,  who  had  gone 
about  unshaven  and  unshorn,  began  to  pay  more 
heed  to  their  appearance ;  they  wore  their  red  caps 
with  a  jauntier  air,  their  blue  blouses  showed  no  more 
rents  or  patches  put  on  by  awkward  sewers.  The 
garrison  grumbled  no  more  at  the  daily  drill,  and 
were  ever  ready  to  go  on  parade.  The  streets  were 
livelier  for  the  gay  kirtles  of  the  women,  and  it  was 
pleasant  in  the  church  of  a  Sunday  to  see  the  Nor- 
mandy head-dresses  of  the  settlers'  wives,  the  elegant 
fontanges,  or  coiffures,  and  veils  of  the  ladies.  The 
whole  town  was  cheerier,  and  took  on  an  air  of  thrift, 
prosperity,  and  contentment.  As  for  our  immediate 
society,  we  were  like  one  family  party;  and  the 
ladies  aided  Frere  Constantin  in  his  work  of  instruc- 
tion and  charity,  both  within  the  palisades  and  among 
the  Indians  of  the  surrounding  villages. 


CHAPTER   FOURTEENTH 

AN   INTERVIEW  WITH   MILADI 

ON  a  fair  forenoon,  shortly  after  the  arrival  of 
the  little  company  which  had  wrought  such  a 
transformation  among  us,  the  sun  looked  down  to 
find  the  settlement  again  in  gala  array.  It  was  the 
day  appointed  for  the  May  games,  postponed  from 
the  first  of  the  month  that  they  might  be  witnessed 
by  the  gentler  sex,  whose  presence  would  also  so 
greatly  enhance  the  pleasure  of  the  holiday  dancing. 

I  had  gone  to  live  with  Frere  Constantin,  but  on 
this  occasion  I  repaired  early  to  the  house  of  our 
Sieur,  which  stood  upon  the  crest  of  the  knoll  that 
sloped  down  to  the  Chemin  du  Ronde.  As  I 
approached,  I  saw  the  farmer-soldier  La  Girofl6  and 
the  bargeman,  Sans  Remission,  digging  a  hole  in 
the  ground,  while  the  small  Pani  slave  Jules,  a  boy 
of  seven  or  eight  years,  busied  himself  in  picking 
the  last  shreds  of  bark  from  a  straight  young  birch- 
tree  which  lay  on  the  grass  near  by  and  was  to  serve 
as  the  May-pole.  To  the  sides  of  the  pole  blocks 
had  been  nailed.  Thus,  later,  a  nimble  man  might 
climb  to  the  top,  where  had  been  left  the  little  tuft 
of  branches  called  the  bouquet.  To  this  was  attached 
a  rainbow-painted  staff  whence  would  soon  float 
the  white  banner  of  the  Bourbons. 

"  A  good  May-day  to  you,  mes  honnetes  hommes," 
I  cried  out  blithely  to  the  workers.  "  A  good  aim 
at  the  pole  and  a  pretty  partner  in  the  dance." 


186     A    DAUGHTER    OF    NEW    FRANCE 

"  The  same  to  you,  Monsieur  Guyon,"  returned 
La  Girofle,  with  a  familiarity  whereat  I  could  not  take 
offence  on  this  festive  day. 

"  And  for  me,  monsieur,  please  add  the  wish  for  a 
goodly  draught  of  our  Sieur's  eau  de  vie,"  urged 
Sans  Remission,  looking  up  in  a  waggish  manner. 
"  La  Girofle  here  is  all  for  the  maids,  but  I  —  phouff ! 
a  draught  of  good  liqueur  fires  my  heart  more  than 
would  the  glances  of  the  handsomest  fillette  of 
New  France." 

"  As  you  will,  each  man  according  to  his  fancy,"  I 
responded  with  a  laugh.  "  Still,  you  know  we  have  a 
saying  from  Holy  Writ, '  Wine  is  a  mocker  and  strong 
drink  is  raging."  I  fear  it  will  use  you  worse  than 
any  fillette  who  holds  sway  over  La  Girofle." 

"  Oui,  oui,  for  my  fillette  is  most  gracious;  I  have 
known  her  but  three  days,  yet  she  has  promised  to 
marry  me  on  the  fete  of  St.  Jean  Baptiste,"  returned 
the  latter,  cheerily. 

"  Ay,  ay,  the  little  waiting-maid  of  Madame  Cadil- 
lac," said  Sans  Remission,  as  he  shut  one  eye  and 
looked  at  me  knowingly  with  the  other.  "  Bah,  she 
will  have  promised  to  marry  a  score  of  others  by  this 
day  fortnight." 

La  Girofl6  was  not  dismayed  by  the  prediction. 
"  He  who  dares  step  in  between  us  shall  have  scant 
quarter,"  he  declared ;  and  forthwith  the  daredevil 
fellow  fell  to  singing  with  all  his  might,  in  a  voice 
that  was  naturally  rich  and  full, — 

"  Vive  la  Canadienne  et  ses  jolis  yeux  doux." 

Meantime  the  people  had  begun  to  gather  upon 
the  green. 

"  Vive  la  Canadienne  et  ses  jolis  yeux  doux." 


AN    INTERVIEW   WITH    MILADI      187 

To  every  man  of  New  France  the  words  of  the  old 
song  will  ever  conjure  up  before  his  mind's  eye  the 
face  he  loves  best 

"  Ses  jolis  yeux  doux,"  I  repeated  to  myself,  as  I 
proceeded  across  the  sward,  "  ses  jolis  yeux  doux." 

At  the  moment  the  door  of  the  house  opened, 
and  there  came  out,  on  the  broad  gallery  that  fronted 
on  the  river,  the  party  of  the  Seigneur,  —  Monsieur 
de  Cadillac,  his  wife  Therese,  their  little  sons  Antoine 
and  Jacques,  and  the  young  Chatelaine  of  Chateau- 
guay,  Miladi  Barbe,  of  whose  sweet  eyes  I  had  been 
dreaming. 

Our  company  was  soon  joined  by  the  wife  of  De 
Tonty,  and  her  children,  the  lieutenant  himself,  and 
the  other  officers. 

When  all  were  seated,  a  deputation  of  the  habitans, 
headed  by  De  Lorme  the  interpreter,  came  up  to  the 
step  of  the  gallery. 

"  Monsieur  de  Cadillac,"  began  De  Lorme,  after  a 
profound  bow,  — "  Monsieur  de  Cadillac,  we  pray 
you  accord  us  permission  to  plant  our  May-pole 
before  your  house,  that  it  may  bring  you 

*  Health,  happiness,  and  cheer, 
With  good  fortune  all  the  year.'  " 

My  brother  the  Commandant  rose  to  his  feet  and 
ceremoniously  granted  the  request.  The  cure  asked 
a  blessing  upon  the  festivities;  then  La  Girofle, 
Sans  Remission,  and  others  slowly  raised  and  planted 
the  pole.  When  it  was  firmly  in  place,  habitans, 
voyageurs,  and  soldiers  broke  forth  again  into  the 
gay  refrain, — 

"  Vive  la  jolie  Canadienne, 
Vive  la  jolie  Canadienne." 


i88     A    DAUGHTER   OF    NEW   FRANCE 

After  the  chorus  our  Sieur  advanced  and  good- 
humoredly  accepted  the  column  of  happy  omen ; 
a  barrel  of  eau  de  vie  was  tapped,  and  Cadillac 
pledged  the  King  and  wished  prosperity  to  all 
present.  During  the  short  delay  caused  by  this 
tapping  of  the  spirits,  the  agile  coureur  de  bois  Sans 
Souci  had  climbed  the  pole,  and  from  its  top  he  now 
shouted  lustily, — • 

"  Vive  le  Roi,  — 
Vive  le  Seigneur  du  Detroit." 

The  cry  was  taken  up  by  the  throng  below;  the 
drum  sounded,  the  bugler  blew  his  most  stirring 
blast,  the  voice  of  the  little  cannon  of  the  fort 
saluted  the  May-pole. 

"  A  brave  holiday,  is  it  not,  Madame  la  Chatelaine  ?  " 
I  said,  approaching  Miladi  Barbe,  who  stood  leaning 
against  one  of  the  cedar  posts  of  the  gallery.  The 
other  dames  had  gone  forward  to  admire  the  pole 
and  exchange  greetings  with  the  people,  and  now 
she  remained  alone,  viewing  the  scene  with  an  in- 
genuous pleasure,  as  if  she  had  put  aside  her  own 
sadness  that  the  least  shadow  might  not  be  cast  upon 
this  gala  day  for  others. 

"  A  brave  holiday,"  I  repeated.  "  Do  you  know  of 
what  I  am  reminded  when  I  behold  your  interest  in 
our  simple  merry-making?  " 

"  I  am  not  a  sibyl  to  read  your  thoughts,  Monsieur 
Normand,"  she  replied  with  a  flash  of  her  old-time 
sportiveness,  "yet  —  did  I  venture  to  try  —  " 

"What  would  you  say?"  I  urged  with  the  foolish 
eagerness  of  a  boy. 

"  Why,  the  festivities  recall  to  you  by  contrast 
the  May-dances  you  saw  in  Old  France,  and  the 
beauty  of  the  great  ladies  who  as  spectators  conde- 
scended to  grace  the  scene  with  their  presence." 


AN   INTERVIEW   WITH   MILADI      189 

I  gave  her  a  quick  glance ;  but  her  gaze  was  fixed 
upon  the  little  tuft  of  green  near  the  top  of  the 
May-pole,  and  if  I  fancied  she  was  less  pale  than  a 
moment  before,  perhaps  it  was  the  effect  of  the  sun- 
light shining  on  the  gallery.  I  opined  she  should  have 
understood  me  better.  But,  though  she  was  my  sis- 
ter's guest,  so  taken  up  had  she  been  since  her  arrival 
by  the  attentions  of  every  one  at  the  post  that  until 
now  I  had  kept  aloof  from  her. 

"Phouff!  no,  indeed,  my  reminiscences  were  not 
of  Old  France,"  I  rejoined  with  a  degree  of  im- 
patience, adding  awkwardly:  "And  as  for  the 
ladies,  assuredly  my  thoughts  do  not  need  to  travel 
across  the  seas  in  order  to  pay  homage  to  beauty." 

Miladi's  eyes  unmistakably  twinkled  with  merri- 
ment. 

"  No,"  I  continued,  somewhat  nettled ;  "  I  was 
only  thinking  of  certain  springtimes  now  long  past, 
when  a  dreaming  schoolboy  with  his  fusee  across  his 
shoulder  went  a-Maying  with  a  gay  little  light-haired 
maid  who  danced  and  skipped  before  him  all  the 
way;  laughing  back  at  him  as  he  stumbled  abstract- 
edly after  her,  or  challenging  him  to  a  race  over  the 
newly  green  meadows  of  Beauport,  yet  never  ven- 
turing far  from  his  side  after  all,  lest  some  dark 
Indian  form  might  spring  out  from  a  clump  of  bushes 
and  snatch  her  away  ere  he  could  bring  down  the 
savage  as  one  shoots  a  prowling  wolf  of  the  forest. 
And  how  the  color  of  the  early  violets  just  matched 
her  eyes  and  the  arbutus  her  cheeks,  as  I  teasingly 
told  her;  and  how  now  and  again  she  bade  me 
hold  a  '  bouton  d'or,'  or  buttercup,  under  her  chin, 
that  I  might  see,  by  its  golden  reflection  there, 
whether  she  liked  the  famous  galettes  au  beurre 
of  Aunt  Guyon,  even  though  I  knew  very  well 


190     A    DAUGHTER    OF   NEW    FRANCE 

already  she  had   ever  a  sweet  tooth  for  the   tooth- 
some cakes." 

"  Yes,  yes,"  interposed  Miladi  softly,  encircling  the 
rough  cedar  pillar  with  her  white  arm,  and  inclining 
her  pretty  head  towards  me,  —  an  artless  and  uncon- 
scious trick  of  manner  natural  to  her  from  her 
childhood. 

Holding  her  attention,  I  went  on  :  "  And  then 
my  remembrance  flew  back  to  a  day  not  in  spring, 
although  the  morning  was  fair,  and  there  was  joyous 
commotion  in  Quebec.  A  pretty  fillette  chose  as 
her  cavalier  a  youth  just  home  from  Acadia,  that 
she  might  go  down  with  him  to  welcome  the  home- 
coming of  the  great  Governor  Frontenac.  How  en- 
thusiastic grew  the  little  demoiselle  at  the  cheering 
wherewith  the  populace  greeted  him  who  proved 
their  deliverer  during  the  siege  that  followed.  And 
it  was  not  in  spring,  either,  yet  there  came  to  my 
mind,  too,  a  day  when,  as  by  a  touch  of  the  wands  of 
the  Dames  Blanches  (White  Fairies),  the  pretty  child 
was  transformed  into  a  fair  demoiselle  who,  with  the 
spirit  of  the  Lady  of  Fort  St.  John,  defied  a  Boston- 
nais  officer,  a  doughty  admiral,  ay,  a  whole  English 
fleet,  and  selected  an  obscure  young  Canadian  lieu- 
tenant of  militia  to  champion  her  cause  before  the 
Governor." 

As  I  proceeded,  Miladi  Barbe  had  averted  her  face ; 
now,  when  she  turned  her  eyes  upon  me  once  more, 
I  saw  that  they  glistened  with  tears.  Nevertheless 
she  shook  her  head  and  laughed  lightly.  "  Ah,  Nor- 
mand,"  she  said,  "  how  amiable  and  pleasant  you 
were  in  those  days!  What  has  so  sadly  changed 
you?" 

"  I  changed  !  I  exclaimed  in  unfeigned  surprise. 
"'Twas  not  I,  but  the  fair  demoiselle,  who  altered. 


AN   INTERVIEW   WITH   MILADI      191 

Too  quickly,  alack,  all  the  cavaliers  of  Quebec  began 
to  pay  her  court,  and  the  dull  friend  of  her  childhood 
could  not  successfully  vie  with  them  for  her  favor." 

"No,  no,  no,  'twas  you  who  changed,"  persisted 
Barbe ;  "  yet  we  will  not  argue  the  matter,  for,  Nor- 
mand,  it  is  not  on  this  point  I  now  complain.  It  is  this, 
—  I  knew  you  as  the  friend  of  my  happy  childhood 
at  Beauport;  I  knew  you  as  the  morose  cousin  of 
Quebec  who  was  wont  to  take  me  to  task  because  I 
was  not  sufficiently  demure  to  please  his  fancy;  I 
knew  the  friend  who  laid  his  sympathy  at  my  feet  at 
Chateauguay.  But  since  I  have  been  here,  since  we 
have  met  again,  my  cousin,  in  sooth,  I  do  not  know 
you  at  all." 

"  And  why?  "  I  asked,  at  sea  as  to  her  meaning. 

"  Why  ?  Because  in  the  old  days  I  was  ever  to 
you  Barbe,  or  Babette,  or  the  little  demoiselle,  and 
you  were  far  more  chary  of  praise  than  of  blame, 
more  straightforward  than  flattering.  Now  I  am 
Madame  le  Moyne,  de  Chateauguay,  or  Madame  la 
Chatelaine.  And  such  a  preux  chevalier  as  you  have 
become,  —  until  now  you  have  scarce  spoken  three 
words  to  me  save  in  the  language  of  compliment. 
You  search  for  honeyed  phrases,  as  if  I  had  neither 
sense  nor  reason."  And  with  a  girlish  pout  she 
tapped  her  foot  impatiently  upon  the  floor  of  the 
gallery. 

Is  there  aught  in  the  world  so  like  to  be  wide  of 
the  mark  as  a  hazard  of  what  will  please  a  woman? 

"  But  you  ARE  Madame  de  Chateauguay,"  I  pro- 
tested stupidly.  "  Could  I  be  such  a  churl  as  to 
neglect  to  give  you  the  title  due  to  the  position  you 
hold  as  the  daughter-in-law  of  the  noble  Sieur  de 
Longueil  ?  Still,  for  the  sake  of  old  times,  I  will 
gladly  call  you  Miladi  Barbe,  if  you  will  grant  me  the 


1 92     A   DAUGHTER   OF   NEW   FRANCE 

privilege.  As  for  compliment,  is  it  not  the  language 
of  courtesy,  the  homage  due  to  beauty  everywhere?  " 

With  a  droll  little  sigh  of  deprecation  Miladi 
clapped  her  delicate  hands  over  her  ears. 

"  Normand,"  she  cried,  "  formal  compliments  may 
be  very  well  for  strangers,  as  the  current  coin  of  our 
society  of  New  France,  that  would  fain  ape  the 
courtly  manners  of  Versailles.  But  from  you  I  ex- 
pect the  simple  sincerity  of  speech  to  which  I  have 
hitherto  been  accustomed.  And —  and  you  shall  call 
me  Barbe,  or  Babette,  or  else  nothing  at  all,  for  you 
are  my  cousin,  my  brother.  Therefore  remember, 
that  we  may  not  be  at  odds.  Ah,  look!  They  are 
going  to  salute  the  May-pole.  Monsieur  de  Cadillac 
takes  a  fusee  and  prepares  to  fire ;  let  us  go  nearer, 
to  watch  the  sport." 

Thereupon  she  stepped  off  the  gallery  and  tripped 
across  the  grass  to  join  Therese  and  Madame  de 
Tonty  and  the  group  about  the  May-pole. 

I  followed  slowly  after,  being  betwixt  two  minds  as 
to  whether  to  be  in  a  good  or  ill  humor  after  this 
wordy  passage  at  arms. 

Twas  pleasant  that  she  had  asked  me  to  call  her 
by  the  name  of  her  childhood,  that  she  would  fain 
re-establish  the  old  friendliness  between  us ;  yet,  on 
the  other  hand,  I  had  no  wish  to  be  her  brother,  and 
liked  not,  therefore,  the  role  she  designed  me  to  enact. 

For  it  was  long  since  I  had  ceased  to  combat  with 
my  own  heart,  whose  secret  had  been  revealed  to  me 
upon  the  ever-memorable  day  in  Paris  when  Cadillac 
thought  I  had  been  touched  at  fence. 

In  my  pride  I  was  resolved  to  hide  the  truth  from 
others,  and  most  of  all  from  Barbe  herself,  but  her 
coming  thus  unexpectedly  to  Le  Detroit  had  put  me 
off  my  guard. 


AN   INTERVIEW   WITH   MILADI      193 

I  had  loved  her  always ;  at  first,  indeed,  with  the 
love  one  has  for  an  engaging  child,  but  for  long  with 
the  devotion  which  a  man  gives  only  once,  and  to  his 
ideal  of  womanly  purity  and  loveliness.  It  was  a  love 
so  familiar  that  only  at  her  marriage,  when  I  found 
I  must  needs  pluck  it  out,  only  then  did  I  dis- 
cover that  it  had  formed  my  happiness.  Not  to  have 
struggled  against  it  then  would  have  been  but  to  in- 
sult her.  But  when  she  was  once  more  free,  and 
ever  since,  she  had  reigned  in  my  heart. 

Was  it  her  pleasure  or  her  kindness,  now,  to  let  me 
know  that  if  she  would  not  accept  from  me  the  lan- 
guage of  flattery,  still  less  would  she  have  from  me 
the  speech  of  a  lover? 

My  compliments,  forsooth,  were  too  ill-framed  to 
please  so  fastidious  a  beauty!  What  a  fool  I  was  to 
feel  so  elated  a  moment  before !  Well,  at  least,  I 
would  not  be  made  the  sport  of  her  coquetries. 

Now  I  know  that  these  coquetries  arose  from  a 
guileless  wish  to  please,  and  not  from  any  intent  to 
deceive  or  deeply  wound  either  the  hearts  or  the 
vanity  of  those  who  paid  her  court;  but  then  I  looked 
at  the  matter  differently,  and  it  was  in  a  puzzled 
mood  that  I  sauntered  across  the  sward  and,  instead 
of  joining  the  ladies,  took  up  a  position  on  the  edge 
of  the  ring  of  spectators. 

Cadillac  had  opened  the  sport  of  blackening  the 
May-pole,  by  firing  at  it  a  gun  loaded  with  powder 
only ;  his  wife  Therese,  Madame  de  Tonty,  and  Miladi 
Barbe  shot  at  it  with  good  aim ;  next  De  Tonty  and 
the  other  officers,  De  Reaume,  and  I  blazed  away  at 
the  shining  white  mark;  finally,  all  the  soldiers  and 
settlers  took  their  turn,  until  the  stately  column  was 
blackened  its  entire  length. 

In  the  shade  of  the  groves  near  by,  tables  were 
13 


i94     A    DAUGHTER   OF   NEW   FRANCE 

spread  for  a  feast,  and  there  was  dancing  upon  the 
green. 

"  Was  ever  a  more  fascinating  scene  ? "  I  said  to 
Frere  Constantin,  as  we  stood  together,  watching  the 
merry-making. 

In  the  "ronde"  wove  in  and  out  many  pictur- 
esque forms,  —  the  habitans  and  voyageurs  in  their 
holiday  garb,  their  blue  tunics  fresh  and  bright,  the 
seams  of  their  deerskin  trousers  trimmed  with  yellow 
fringe,  their  moccasins  ornamented  with  beads  and 
porcupine  quills,  their  scarlet  caps  and  sashes  con- 
spicuous bits  of  color ;  the  soldiers'  wives  in  gayly 
tinted  jupes  and  wonderful  head-dresses;  the  sol- 
diers wearing  proudly  their  uniforms  of  azure  faced 
with  white. 

Now,  in  front  of  the  gallery  Monsieur  de  Cadil- 
lac leads  Therese  to  the  dance  also;  they  are  quickly 
surrounded  by  their  little  circle,  the  officers  resplen- 
dent in  gold-laced  habits,  cavalier  hats,  and  with 
powdered  hair  that  hangs  down  upon  their  shoulders 
in  a  queue  tied  with  a  riband ;  Mesdames  Cadillac 
and  De  Tonty,  and  the  fair  Chatelaine  of  Chateauguay, 
displaying  the  rich  costumes  they  brought  from  the 
land  of  civilization  for  just  these  occasions,  — silks 
and  brocades  sent  over  in  the  ships  from  the  mother 
country,  and  cut  according  to  the  fashions  of  the 
most  splendid  court  of  Europe.  I  wished  for  the 
skill  and  colors  of  an  artist  that  I  might  put  it  all 
upon  canvas. 

"Ay,  it  is  a  joyous  picture  of  an  Arcadia  in  the 
wilderness,"  rejoined  the  gentle  Recollet,  well  pleased 
to  see  his  flock  engaged  in  innocent  recreation,  and 
forgetting  .for  the  nonce  the  many  hardships  of 
their  lives.  "May  Fort  Pontchartrain  long  remain 
thus  contented  and  happy !  " 


AN   INTERVIEW   WITH    MILADI      195 

"Right  cordially  do  I  say  Amen  to  your  wish, 
good  friend,"  I  responded  somewhat  absently,  for 
through  all  the  mazes  of  the  dance  my  eyes  followed 
the  graceful  figure  and  piquant  face  of  Miladi 
Barbe  as  she  trod  the  measure  with  her  partner, 
Robert  de  Reaume,  or  swept  a  courtesy  to  Dugue 
or  Chacornacle. 

I  have  heard  since  then  of  a  painter  lad  who  came 
up  from  an  obscure  village  to  Versailles  some  three 
years  after  we  were  there  awaiting  the  pleasure  of 
the  King's  ministers, — a  young  painter  who  made 
so  bold  as  to  depict  the  ladies  of  the  Court  thus 
dancing  on  the  green,  and  even  put  into  their  hands 
the  crooks  of  shepherdesses.  One  Antoine  Watteau 
he  was,  and  instead  of  being  punished  for  his  audacity, 
he  was  taken  into  favor  by  the  King,  and  made 
much  of  by  the  nobles.  Thus,  by  his  rural  scenes 
peopled  with  courtly  Corydons  and  shepherdesses  in 
rich  attire,  he  has  won  both  fame  and  fortune. 

Yes,  Watteau  was  his  name;  but  never  did  his 
poetic  brush  depict  fairer  lady  than  was  Barbe  at  the 
raising  of  the  first  May-pole  of  Le  Detroit.1 

1  The  May-pole,  ever  among  the  people  of  New  France  a  symbol 
of  homage  from  the  censitaires  to  their  seigneur,  and  an  emblem  of 
good  fortune,  was  left  standing  before  the  manor  until  the  coming 
again  of  the  May-time. 


CHAPTER   FIFTEENTH 

THE   RED   DWARF 

ONE  morning,  having  left  my  quarters  at  the 
habitation  of  Frere  Constantin  to  go  to  our 
Sieur  for  my  instructions  as  secretary,  I  found  my- 
self among  another  gala  throng,  assembled  upon  the 
green  in  front  of  the  manor.  We  of  New  France 
dearly  love  a  pageant  of  ceremony,  and  are  ever 
ready  to  lighten  our  tasks  with  a  holiday. 

I  had  been  away  for  some  weeks  with  the  Recol- 
let  upon  one  of  his  missionary  journeys,  —  which  I 
delighted  to  share  since  they  lay  through  the  beauti- 
ful, mysterious  woods,  and  also  because  they  gave 
me  his  close  companionship. 

The  significance  of  the  present  gathering  was  at 
first  lost  upon  me,  therefore,  but  soon  all  was  made 
plain.  The  crowd  divided  to  the  right  and  left,  and 
along  the  pathway  thus  formed  a  man,  finely  appar- 
elled, approached  the  house  at  a  slow  and  stately 
pace. 

I  recognized  the  stanch  De  Lorme,  the  King's 
interpreter,  coming  to  render  to  our  Sieur  the  tribute 
of  faith  and  homage  for  the  rich  tract  of  farm-land 
above  the  fort  which  Monsieur  de  Cadillac  had  re- 
cently granted  to  him.  He  was  a  handsome,  rather 
pompous  man,  of  about  forty  years  of  age,  with 
flashing,  restless  eyes  and  long  dark  locks,  and  was 
well  qualified  in  appearance  for  the  r61e  he  played. 


THE   RED   DWARF  197 

Arrived  upon  the  gallery,  De  Lorme  stood  a  mo- 
ment, faced  the  spectators,  and  then,  wheeling  about 
and  assuming  his  most  ostentatious  air,  gave  three 
resonant  knocks  upon  the  oaken  door. 

It  was  opened  by  Gaspard  the  Acadian,  Cadillac's 
major-domo,  who  bowed  low  and  ceremoniously 
waited  to  be  told  the  errand  of  the  visitor,  albeit  he 
knew  it  very  well. 

Ere  De  Lorme  could  state  it  in  due  form,  however, 
an  incident  occurred  which  was  not  upon  the 
program. 

From  within  came  the  sound  of  boyish  laughter, 
and  the  next  moment,  out  from  the  shadowed  en- 
trance hall  rushed  Cadillac's  young  sons,  Antoine 
and  little  Jacques,  brushing  past  Gaspard,  and  nearly 
overthrowing  the  pompous  De  Lorme,  in  the  romp- 
ing excitement  of  a  merry  chase,  Jacques  in  the 
lead  but  apparently  fated  to  be  quickly  captured  by 
his  elder  brother. 

"  Fi  done  !  young  messieurs,  hola !  Stop,  I  pray 
you !  "  cried  the  poor  major-domo,  while  the  older 
men  in  the  crowd  threw  up  their  hands  in  horror 
that  tradition  and  the  conventions  should  be  thus 
outraged. 

But,  unheeding  the  sensation  they  had  caused,  the 
boys  broke  through  the  throng  and  came  running 
in  my  direction. 

Ere  I  could  intercept  them,  the  soldier  Jolicceur 
sprang  forward,  caught  up  little  Jacques,  and  set  the 
struggling  child  upon  his  shoulder. 

"Hist,  petit  bon  homme !  "  he  cried.  "You  will 
want  to  see  what  goes  on." 

The  bluff  sergeant  was  the  lads'  especial  friend ; 
many  the  story  he  had  to  tell  them,  and  many  of  his 
free  hours  were  given  to  their  amusement. 


198     A    DAUGHTER    OF   NEW   FRANCE 

Had  they  not  now  been  stayed,  much  I  fear  me 
they  would  have  repented  their  breach  of  discipline 
and  their  escape  from  the  house ;  for  Cadillac  had 
already  begun  to  train  them  to  military  obedience, 
and  Therese  was  a  strict  though  a  gentle  mother. 

Meantime  Jean  Favart,  dit  De  Lorme,  having  re- 
covered his  breath  and  smoothed  down  his  ruffled 
dignity,  requested  an  interview  with  the  lord  of  the 
manor. 

Gaspard  retired  to  acquaint  the  Seigneur,  and  De 
Lorme  stepped  back  upon  the  grass. 

Anon  Monsieur  de  Cadillac  came  forth  from  the 
house,  wearing  his  blue  court  uniform  and  cavalier's 
hat  with  its  long  white  plume,  his  sword,  as  ever,  by 
his  side. 

De  Lorme  uncovered  his  head,  came  up  to  the 
step  of  the  gallery,  and,  kneeling  upon  both  knees 
before  our  Sieur,  said  in  a  loud  voice,  — 

"  Monsieur  du  Detroit,  Monsieur  du  Detroit,  Mon- 
sieur du  Detroit,  I  render  you  fealty  and  the  hom- 
age due  to  you  on  account  of  my  fief  of  De  Lorme 
which  I  hold  of  your  Seigneury  of  Detroit;  and  I 
proclaim  my  willingness  to  acquit  the  seigneurial  and 
feudal  rentes  and  all  other  lawful  claims  in  their 
season,  beseeching  you  to  be  my  good  lord  and  to 
accept  me  in  faith  and  homage." 

With  the  gracious  condescension  that  so  well 
became  him,  La  Mothe  accepted  the  fealty  of  De 
Lorme,  bade  him  rise  to  his  feet,  and  gave  him  a 
draught  of  wine  in  a  silver  goblet  which  Gaspard  had 
set  upon  a  rustic  table  close  at  hand. 

Then  the  sturdy  interpreter,  again  bowing  low, 
gave  place  to  Pierre  Malet,  Jacob  de  Mersac,  Jean 
Richard,  and  others  who  had  also  been  granted  lands 
and  in  turn  offered  their  homage  and  received  a 


THE   RED   DWARF  199 

cup  of  wine,  —  Gaspard  filling  it  from  a  great  silver 
flagon  the  burnishing  whereof  was  his  especial  pride. 
After,  there  was  feasting  and  dancing  as  on  the  May 
holiday. 

Pleasing  as  was  the  scene  to  me,  I  was  more  inter- 
ested to  mark  its  effect  upon  the  two  boys,  whose 
youthful  chatter  to  Jolicceur  I  plainly  caught. 

"  What  is  it  all  about,  Jolicceur,"  urged  Jacques, 
from  his  perch  on  the  soldier's  shoulder. 

"  De  Lorme  and  the  others  are  paying  homage  to 
Monsieur  de  la  Mothe,  as  they  will  render  fealty  to 
you  some  day,"  replied  the  good  fellow  simply,  as 
though  this  explanation  was  sufficient. 

"  But  it  is  Antoine  who  will  be  seigneur  after  my 
father,"  protested  the  spirited  boy,  sportively  strug- 
gling to  free  himself  from  the  iron  clasp  of  the 
sergeant. 

"  Ay,  to  be  sure,  Master  Antoine  will  be  lord  of 
Le  Ddtroit,"  responded  Jolicceur,  with  an  approving 
glance  at  the  lithe,  well-built  lad  by  his  side,  while 
at  the  same  time  he  shifted  the  restless  Jacques  to 
the  other  shoulder;  "but  you  too,  mon  petit  maitre, 
shall  one  day  be  a  grand  seigneur.  This  seigneury 
of  the  strait  will  grow  too  great  for  one  man  to 
manage,  and  our  Sieur  will  partition  it  among  his 
children,  as  the  Sieur  de  Longueil  divided  his  lands 
among  his  sons.  You  will  be  lord  of  the  Ecorse 
and  the  Grosse  Isle,  down  yonder." 

"  No,  that  tract  is  for  Madeleine ;  I  have  heard  my 
father  say  as  much,"  corrected  Antoine,  with  a  shake 
of  the  head. 

"Ay,  ay,  for  one  of  the  little  demoiselles,  your 
sisters,  whom  Madame  Cadillac  left  at  school  with 
the  Ursulines  of  Quebec?"  said  Jolicceur,  interroga- 
tively. "  Eh  bien,  then  perchance  you  will  have  the 


200     A   DAUGHTER    OF   NEW   FRANCE 

rich  lands  of  the  Grosse  Pointe  and  along  the  upper 
shore,  Maitre  Jacques,  —  yes,  mon  bon  petit  maitre, 
you  are  sure  to  be  a  rich  seigneur,  one  day." 

"When  I  am,  Jolicceur,  you  shall  have  the  best 
fief  in  my  gift,  and  when  you  come  to  pay  me  hom- 
age I  will  give  you  a  draught  of  wine  out  of  a  gold 
goblet,"  declared  the  child,  clasping  the  neck  of  the 
hardy  soldier  in  an  impulsive  embrace. 

"  Ah,  verily  you  have  the  heart  of  a  good  seign- 
eur," answered  Jean  Joly,  patting  the  little  fellow 
with  hearty  affection. 

"  Jolicoeur  shall  have  a  fief  from  me  too,"  main- 
tained Antoine,  stoutly.  "  I  will  not  give  him  up  to 
you  altogether,  brother;  the  seigneur  of  Le  Detroit 
cannot  spare  such  men  as  he.  And  when  he  comes 
to  acknowledge  me  lord,  I  will  give  him  a  golden 
flagon,  full  of  wine  for  himself." 

The  sergeant  laid  a  hand  caressingly  upon  the 
arm  of  the  elder  lad. 

"Thanks,  thanks,  my  young  gentlemen,  if  I  live 
long  enough,  I  shall  be  no  lack-land,"  he  said ;  "  yet 
look  you,  so  the  wine  be  good,  you  need  not  trouble 
to  buy  the  golden  cup  and  flagon.  Jean  Joly  asks 
nothing  better  than  burnished  silver  to  drink  from ; 
but  the  wine,  ah,  that  may  be  as  grand  as  you  please. 
When  I  come  into  my  fiefs,  if  you  would  fain  treat 
me  far  beyond  my  deserts,  a  draught  of  Burgundy, 
or  —  " 

"You  shall  have  such  wine  as  is  served  at  the 
King's  table,"  promised  Antoine  gravely,  whereat 
Jolicoeur  laughed  again,  —  the  pleasant,  contagious 
laugh  that  wells  up  from  a  brave,  cheerful,  and  un- 
selfish heart. 

I  turned  away,  amused  by  the  talk  of  the  three 
merry  comrades,  for  Jean  Joly,  despite  his  manly 


THE   RED    DWARF  201 

strength  and  fortitude,  was  in  his  light-heartedness 
as  much  a  boy  as  either  of  the  other  two.  Never- 
theless, by  the  involuntary  sigh  that  followed  his 
happy  laugh,  I  knew  he  was  thinking  he  would 
either  be  dead  or  else  a  feeble  old  man  by  the  time 
the  sons  of  Cadillac  would  come  into  possession  of 
their  seigneuries. 

That  evening  I  walked  with  our  Sieur  beside  the 
river.  In  the  clear  summer  sky  the  light  of  the  stars 
began  to  pale  before  the  rising  moon,  whose  argent 
disk  was  appearing  above  the  dark  woods  on  the 
opposite  shore. 

"  I  do  not  marvel  at  the  faith  of  the  habitans  in 
the  '  dames  blanches,'  the  white  fairies  of  the  moon- 
light; such  a  night  as  this  casts  a  spell  upon  a 
man,"  I  remarked  as  we  paced  the  strand,  —  he  with 
measured  tread,  his  hand  wandering  often  to  his 
sword-hilt,  as  if  now  and  again  some  thought  vexed 
him.  I  suiting  my  step  to  his,  and  glad  to  bear  him 
company :  for  notwithstanding  his  high  position,  and 
the  happiness  of  his  domestic  ties,  he  was  often 
lonely,  as  are  all  men  of  a  proud,  imperious,  and 
ambitious  nature. 

"  Yes,  such  surroundings  are  prone  to  break  down 
one's  habitual  reticence  and  reserve,"  answered  La 
Mothe,  with  a  nod  of  the  head.  "  The  moon,  the 
Queen  of  the  '  Dames  Blanches,'  is,  of  a  truth,  very 
like  a  woman.  Her  soothing  influence,  her  soft 
beams,  like  the  gentle  sympathy,  the  sweet  smile  of 
a  woman,  beguile  a  man  to  confidence  and  too  often 
to  a  foolish  unburdening  of  the  heart  and  his  own 
undoing.  Your  loyalty  to  me  and  your  discretion 
have,  however,  been  well  tested,  my  brother.  There- 
fore at  times  I  mention  to  you  matters  whereof  I 
speak  to  no  one  else  —  no,  not  even  to  Therese, 


202     A   DAUGHTER    OF    NEW   FRANCE 

although,  God  knows,  no  man  has  a  more  devoted 
wife  than  I  have.  Still,  this  is  no  reason  why  a  man 
should  shift  a  heavy  share  of  his  anxieties  upon  the 
heart  of  this  true  friend,  as  if  his  own  were  not  strong 
enough  to  carry  them." 

He  spoke  in  all  sincerity,  he  who  was  wont  to  worry 
Therese  full  often  with  his  moods.  But  if  I  smiled  to 
myself,  I  highly  prized  his  trust  in  me,  and  I  said  as 
much. 

"  Normand,"  he  continued,  "  you,  better  than 
any  one  on  Le  Detroit  know  what  I  have  accom- 
plished since  we  came  to  this  region.  I  have  not 
only  established  a  fort,  but  founded  a  colony  that  is 
already  prosperous.  In  twelve  months  we  have  put 
ourselves  in  a  position  to  do  without  provisions  from 
Canada  forever.  And  all  this  undertaking  was  car- 
ried out  with  the  three  months'  provision  we  took 
when  we  set  out  from  Montreal,  the  which  was  con- 
sumed on  the  journey.  This  should  prove  to  the 
Ministers  in  France  whether  Le  Detroit  is  a  desirable 
or  an  undesirable  country.  Moreover,  as  you  know, 
besides  our  own  people,  six  thousand  savages  have 
wintered  here.  And  yet  this  colony  has  not  cost  the 
King  so  much  as  a  sou." 

"  Your  management  has  been  extraordinary,  mon 
chevalier,"  I  replied,  "  since  the  savages  who  settle 
at  Ville  Marie  and  Quebec  are  allowed  soldiers' 
rations,  even  to  the  little  children,  and  are  also  given 
frequent  presents." 

"  Ay,  and  the  Governor  and  the  Intendant  will  not 
allow  me  so  much  as  a  pistole  to  use  for  presents," 
he  said  bitterly.  "  Were  this  not  the  fertile  paradise 
of  America,  I  could  never  have  achieved  what  has 
been  done  since  we  landed  upon  this  stretch  of 
beach." 


THE   RED   DWARF  203 

"  And  now,"  I  went  on  with  enthusiasm,  "  now 
that  the  foundations  of  your  colony  are  well  laid, 
you  will  begin  to  reap  the  reward  of  your  labors. 
Each  year  henceforth  should  add  to  your  wealth 
and  influence.  Your  name  will  become  illustrious, 
your  authority  is  supreme  on  Le  Detroit,  you  are 
like  to  realize  the  wildest  dreams  of  your  ambition." 

"  Hist !  hist !  Normand  !  "  cautioned  De  la  Mothe, 
glancing  about  him  uneasily,  as  if  he  half  expected  a 
foe  might  be  lurking  in  ambush  near  by.  "  The 
wilderness  has  ears  and  a  voice.  Therefore  say 
not  too  much  of  the  power  I  hold.  Power  begets 
jealousy,  and  plots,  and  calumnies.  Have  you  given 
any  heed  to  the  demeanor  of  Monsieur  de  Tonty  of 
late?" 

"  De  Tonty !  "  I  exclaimed  in  surprise.  "  I  have 
remarked  him  to  be  somewhat  taciturn  and  low  in 
spirits,  but  his  wife  says  he  has  taken  the  ague. 
Surely  he  is,  as  ever,  your  good  ally  and  most 
clever  aid." 

"  He  is  called  clever  who  cheats  and  plunders  his 
friends,"  asserted  Cadillac,  in  a  tone  that  intimated 
he  would  brook  no  contradiction.  "  Monsieur  de 
Tonty  is  growing  cold ;  an  Italian,  he  is  subtle,  like 
his  astute  countryman,  Machiavelli.  Say  nothing  to 
him  that  you  would  not  wish  an  enemy  to  know, 
Normand." 

"  He  has  ever  been  too  reserved  to  hold  much  con- 
verse with  me,"  I  returned. 

"  Then  concern  not  yourself  upon  that  score,  save  to 
be  on  your  guard,  as  against  a  dog  that  sleeps  with 
one  eye  open.  But  there  is  a  trouble  which  galls  me 
more,"  he  continued.  "  It  is  the  dispute  with  the 
missionaries  of  Michilimackinac.  Monsieur  de  Car- 
heil  remains  firm  in  his  resolution  not  to  follow  the 


204     A    DAUGHTER    OF    NEW   FRANCE 

Indians  to  this  post;  only  a  few  Hurons  are  left  to 
him  there,  and  this  fall  I  hope  to  pluck  the  last 
feather  from  his  wing.  Yet  I  am  persuaded  this  un- 
yielding old  man  will  die  in  his  parish  without  having 
a  single  parishioner  to  bury  him." 

I  sighed. 

Bold,  enthusiastic,  sometimes  visionary,  prompt  in 
action,  and  impetuous  of  speech,  my  brother  pos- 
sessed to  a  degree  the  art  of  alienating  those  with 
whom  he  should  have  worked  in  harmony.  By 
bringing  the  Hurons  and  Outawas  to  Le  Detroit, 
he  had  destroyed  the  great  Mission  at  Michilimacki- 
nac ;  and  remembering  his  haughty  manners  to  Mon- 
sieur de  Carheil,  I  marvelled  not  that  the  latter 
declined  to  come  to  our  southern  settlement,  since 
discord  between  the  Commandant  and  the  missionary 
would  present  a  deplorable  spectacle  to  the  abo- 
rigines. Still,  I  saw  how  Monsieur  de  Tonty  and 
others  were  like  to  use  this  quarrel  to  their  own 
advantage. 

"  Mayhap  a  policy  of  conciliation  —  "I  hazarded. 
But  La  Mothe  interrupted  me. 

"  I  asked  not  advice,"  he  cried  with  angry  impa- 
tience ;  then,  regretting  the  outburst  of  temper,  pro- 
ceeded more  quietly:  "Well,  no  more  of  this.  I 
would  but  have  you  comprehend,  Normand,  that, 
notwithstanding  all  fair  appearances,  a  demon  of  dis- 
content and  misfortune  stalks  abroad.  I  use,  to  be 
sure,  a  figure  of  speech;  but  Jules,  the  little  Pani 
slave,  and  the  coureurs  de  bois  have  been  telling 
my  young  sons  idle  tales  of  some  imp  of  the  strait, 
a  hobgoblin  of  the  Indians,  to  whom  they  say  it  is 
best  to  give  a  wide  path." 

"  Ah,  yes,  '  le  petit  Homme  Rouge,'  I  have  heard 
of  him  too,"  I  said  with  a  laugh. 


THE   RED   DWARF  205 

At  the  same  moment  there  flashed  upon  me  a 
recollection  of  the  banquet  given  in  honor  of  our 
Sieur  at  the  Chateau  of  Quebec,  and  I  added  jest- 
ingly* "  Why,  truly,  is  not  this  mischievous  '  petit 
homme '  the  very  '  Nain  Rouge'  whereof  La  Jongleuse 
bade  you  beware,  mon  chevalier?" 

"  Phouff!  "  exclaimed  La  Mothe,  his  good  humor 
restored,  "  I  would  all  the  evils  in  my  way  were  as 
imaginary.  Bah  !  There  is  no  satisfying  these  frivo- 
lous voyageurs  and  coureurs  de  bois  whom  I  have 
sought  to  colonize.  After  all  I  have  done  for  them, 
they  grumble  because  I,  a  gentleman  and  a  seigneur, 
have  silver-plate  and  fine  damask  for  my  table,  and 
go  well  attired  with  a  sword  by  my  side.  Yet  it  is 
I,  not  they,  who  have  given  this  new  province  of  Le 
Detroit  to  the  King." 

He  lapsed  again  into  moroseness,  and  for  some 
time  we  paced  the  strand  without  further  conver- 
sation. 

Of  a  sudden,  and  so  silently  that  I  doubted  if  I 
saw  aright,  there  appeared  upon  the  beach,  a  short 
distance  before  us,  a  strange,  uncouth  figure. 

Whether  it  arose  from  beneath  the  earth  or  stalked 
out  from  the  shadow  of  a  clump  of  bushes  that 
overhung  the  bank,  I  could  not  say;  but  Cadillac 
saw  it  too,  and  half  drew  his  sword  as  I  did  mine. 
In  those  days  an  enemy  might  spring  up  beside  a 
man  at  any  instant,  and  it  behooved  him  to  be  ever 
prepared. 

The  moon  had  been  under  a  cloud,  but  now  it 
shone  full  upon  the  repulsive  form  of  the  intruder. 

"  A  misshapen  Indian,"  muttered  Cadillac.  "  What 
is  he  doing  here?  Is  he  a  spy  or  a  half-breed 
woods-ranger,  who  has  sought  to  overhear  us?  If 
so,  he  will  repent  of  his  hardihood." 


206     A   DAUGHTER   OF   NEW   FRANCE 

The  creature  approached  nearer.  It  was  neither  In- 
dian nor  white  man,  though  perchance  an  embodiment 
of  the  worst  natures  of  both ;  a  being,  apparently, 
half-human,  half-gnome,  short  of  stature,  very  red  in 
the  face,  and  with  a  blazing  eye  whose  horrible 
stare,  instead  of  burning,  turned  the  blood  in  one's 
veins  to  ice.  The  apparition  was  enwrapped  from 
head  to  foot  in  a  blanket  that  I  took  to  be  crimson, 
as  well  as  I  could  see  it  in  the  moonlight,  and  his 
diabolical  grin  displayed  a  wide  mouth  and  sharp 
fang-like  teeth. 

"  My  faith !  the  tradition  of  the  savages  was,  after 
all,  no  fantastic  story,"  I  ejaculated  in  horror.  "This 
can  be  no  other  than  the  Nain  Rouge,  the  Demon  of 
the  Strait." 

"  Demon  or  human,  he  shall  not  obstruct  my 
way,"  cried  our  Sieur,  enraged. 

The  malevolent  Red  Dwarf  came  up  close  to  us ;  it 
stood  directly  in  our  road,  and,  taking  off  its  wood- 
ranger's  cap,  bowed  low  to  our  Sieur  in  most  ironical 
fashion. 

"  Sacr6  !  "  exclaimed  Cadillac,  in  a  fury.  "  Get  out 
of  my  path,  you  spawn  of  Satan !  "  and  forthwith  he 
dealt  the  creature  a  blow  with  the  back  of  his  sabre. 

Albeit  the  frame  of  the  dwarf  looked  the  concen- 
tration of  a  giant's  strength,  I  thought  to  see  him 
felled  to  the  ground.  Instead,  however,  a  mocking 
discordant  laugh  rang  out  upon  the  air,  and  the 
creature  vanished. 

"Alack,  Cadillac,  what  have  you  done?"  I  cried. 
"  You  were  warned  to  make  friends  with  this  demon, 
to  beware  of  offending  him;  now,  alas,  in  giving  way 
to  your  anger  you  have  incurred  his  enmity." 

La  Mothe  broke  into  a  peal  of  merriment.  "  Non- 
sense, Normand ! "  he  said.  "The  moonlight  has 


THE   RED   DWARF  207 

tricked  your  eyes,  or  else  over-much  clerkly  work 
has  impaired  their  vision.  The  dwarf  was  but  a 
hunch-back  Indian.  It  had  been  better,  perchance, 
had  I  struck  him  down  with  the  sharp  edge,  rather 
than  the  back  of  my  sword  blade.  A  dead  enemy 
cannot  molest  a  man,  whereas  now  this  fellow  will  be 
as  a  thorn  in  my  flesh." 

"  Yes,  yes,  it  must  be  so ;  my  eyes  served  me 
false.  It  is  strange  what  pranks  the  moonlight  plays, 
investing  some  objects  with  a  beauty  they  have  not 
of  a  verity,  and  conjuring  up  weird  forms  out  of 
the  shadows,"  I  answered.  "  But,  mayhap,  after  all, 
my  brother,  it  is  better  you  did  not  kill  the  dwarf;  I 
dare  say  he  is  half  witted  and  can  do  you  no  harm." 

Thus  did  we  both  make  pretence  to  pass  over  the 
occurrence  as  a  trivial  matter. 

Nevertheless  I  feel  sure  that  no  more  than  I,  did 
our  Sieur  believe  the  Nain  Rouge  to  be  human.  And 
although,  I  understand,  he  quietly  caused  search  to 
be  made,  never  was  any  such  misshapen  savage 
found  among  the  Indian  villages  that  cluster  about 
Fort  Pontchartrain. 


CHAPTER  SIXTEENTH 

SCHEMERS 

QEPTEMBER  was  come.  At  the  river  edge 
O  Indian  boatmen  were  lading  their  canoes  with 
peltries  that  had  come  in  too  late  to  be  sent  to  Mon- 
treal earlier,  and  making  other  preparations  for  a 
voyage  down  the  lakes. 

A  convoy  was  to  depart  that  day  for  Fort  Fronte- 
nac  and  the  St.  Lawrence,  with  some^core  of  voya- 
geurs,  who  were  bound  thither  with  the  hope  of  being 
engaged  to  conduct  a  new  party  to  Le  Detroit  after 
the  winter,  when  the  breaking  up  of  the  ice  should 
again  leave  the  way  navigable. 

Returning  colonists,  happily,  there  were  none.  The 
only  passenger  was  to  be  Robert  de  Reaume,  who 
had  come  as  escort  of  Madame  Cadillac  and  the  other 
ladies. 

"  You  are  resolved  to  go,  Robert,"  I  asked  regret- 
fully, as  I  walked  with  him  upon  the  prairie  that  lies  be- 
tween the  palisade  of  Fort  Pontchartrain  and  the  woods. 
"  Since  Monsieur  de  Cadillac  has  made  you  a  grant 
of  land,  and  fortune  is  like  to  offer  a  man  better 
chances  in  a  new  country  than  in  a  town,  where  many 
are  pushing  and  elbowing  for  preferment,  why  not 
decide  to  remain,  even  at  the  eleventh  hour?  " 

De  Reaume  shook  his  head. 

"  No,  I  must  go,"  he  replied.  "  Doubtless  you 
surmise  why  I  so  readily  accepted  the  responsibility 
of  escort  to  the  ladies  in  their  journey  hither.  I  in- 


SCHEMERS  209 

deed  esteemed  it  an  honor  to  be  chosen  for  the  duty 
by  Madame  Cadillac.  Ah,  Normand,  your  sister 
Therese  is  a  noble  woman  !  Often  did  I  admire  her 
fortitude  during  that  voyage  of  over  three  hundred 
leagues  in  an  open  canoe,  with  Indians  and  rough 
voyageurs ;  for  notwithstanding  that  we  wintered  at 
Fort  Frontenac,  the  spring  travelling  was  most  diffi- 
cult, because  of  the  winds  and  rains.  Never  shall  I 
forget  her  answer  to  the  dames  of  Quebec  who  came 
down  to  the  Esplanade  to  bid  her  adieu  when  we  set 
out. 

"  '  Turn  back/  they  pleaded,  '  this  arduous  voyage 
might  be  braved  if  you  were  going  to  a  pleasant 
country,  where  you  would  have  the  comforts  of  life 
and  good  company ;  but  why  should  you  go  into  a 
wilderness  where  you  will  be  like  to  die  of  ennui?  ' 

"  Madame  Cadillac  only  laughed  at  their  lamenta- 
tions and  answered  with  spirit,  — 

"  '  Do  not  waste  your  pity  upon  me,  my  dear  friends. 
I  am  more  than  content,  I  am  anxious  to  go.  A 
woman  who  loves  her  husband  as  she  should,  has  no 
stronger  attraction  than  his  company,  wherever  he 
may  be.  Everything  else  should  be  a  matter  of  in- 
difference to  her.' 

"  Ah,  Normand,  it  is  the  love  of  such  a  wife  that 
inspires  a  man  to  great  deeds.  I  do  not  wonder 
Monsieur  de  Cadillac  finds  his  courage  sustained 
through  many  ordeals.  Nevertheless,  glad  as  I  was 
to  render  service  to  my  noble  cousin  Therese,  it  was 
because  of  the  fair  Chatelaine  of  Chateauguay  I  came 
to  Le  Detroit. 

"  You      know     well,     I    have     long     loved     her. 

When  she  was  but  a  young  demoiselle,  I  asked  her 

for  her  hand  in  marriage;    but  so  distressed  was  she, 

so  sweetly  confused  at  having  to  give  me  pain  by 

14 


210     A    DAUGHTER    OF   NEW    FRANCE 

saying  me  nay,  that  I  saw  her  heart  was  no  longer 
her  own  to  give.  At  first,  indeed,  I  thought  it  be- 
longed to  you,  Normand,  but  I  speedily  discovered 
my  mistake,  for  soon  she  wedded  the  Sieur  de 
Chateauguay. 

"  All  the  world  knows  how  she  mourned  the  death 
of  the  noble  young  bridegroom  called  by  a  soldier's 
duty  so  cruelly  from  her  side.  Yet  youth  does  not 
grieve  forever.  And  when  I  heard  she  was  bent  upon 
continuing  her  life  of  seclusion  by  withdrawing  into 
the  wilderness  with  Madame  Therese,  I  determined 
to  come  also,  thinking  I  might  give  her  aid  and  pro- 
tection during  the  journey,  and  hoping  the  stead- 
fastness of  my  affection  might  make  an  impression 
upon  her  in  the  end.  I  meant  to  be  patient,  to  bide 
my  time,  and  perhaps  take  up  the  grant  of  land  that 
Monsieur  de  Cadillac  so  kindly  bestowed  upon  me. 
It  was  impossible,  however,  for  me  to  see  and  speak 
with  Barbe  often  and  yet  keep  this  sage  resolution. 

"  One  day  I  went  to  the  manor-house.  Madame 
Cadillac  was  absent  upon  some  errand  of  charity  or 
kindness  at  the  Huron  village,  but  in  the  little  salon 
I  found  Barbe.  She  was  solitary,  and  her  pretty  eyes 
were  dimmed  by  tears. 

"  Impetuously  I  told  her  again  of  my  love ;  I 
begged  her  to  marry  me,  and  vowed  I  would  do 
everything  in  my  power  to  make  her  happy. 

"  But,  no ;  she  said  to  me  gently,  it  could  not  be. 
She  thanked  me,  with  an  appreciation  that  was  almost 
tender,  for  my  devotion,  yet  added  with  firmness,  I 
must  put  the  thought  of  her  out  of  my  mind,  she 
could  never  be  my  wife ;  and  this  answer  she  begged 
me  to  take  as  final  and  forget  her. 

"  Still  I  protested,  I  must  needs  remember;  whereat 
she  prayed  me  to  forgive  her  then  for  whatever  dis- 


SCHEMERS  211 

quietude  she  had  unwittingly  caused  me,  and  to  be  as 
ever  her  good  friend. 

"  What  is  there  but  for  me  to  accept  her  decision? 
After  what  has  passed,  my  presence  here  would  only 
be  an  annoyance  to  her;  and  besides  I  could  not 
stay,  and  be  so  near  yet  so  apart  from  her." 

Much  was  I  moved  by  this  unexpected  confession 
from  De  Reaume. 

When  he  ceased  to  speak,  I  laid  a  hand  upon 
his  shoulder  in  cordial  affection,  and  said  with 
warmth,  — 

"  Yours  was  a  noble  devotion,  my  friend ;  but,  thank 
Heaven,  life  holds  other  interests  than  those  of  mak- 
ing love.  And  were  it  not  so,  I  have  heard  from 
Madame  Cadillac  that  never  did  Quebec  boast  a 
fairer  bevy  of  young  demoiselles  than  are  the  maids 
who  finished  their  studies  at  the  Ursulines  last  year." 

"  I  would  there  were  no  demoiselles  or  dames  in 
the  world  !  "  interrupted  Robert,  passionately. 

That  day  he  left  us,  and  I  remember  still  his  hearty 
hand-clasp  as  he  bade  me  adieu.  It  was  long  ere  we 
met  again ;  but  I  may  as  well  set  down  here  that  the 
spring  after  he  said  farewell  to  Le  Detroit,  he  was 
married  at  Montreal  to  Elizabeth  Brunet;  the  same 
who,  as  a  little  girl,  so  bravely  endured  the  privations 
and  perils  of  her  flight  with  Madame  Cadillac  from 
Acadia.  And  I  presume  this  blithe  Elizabeth  con- 
soled him  for  his  whilom  disappointment,  for  I  have 
heard  they  lived  most  happily  together.  I  under- 
stand, also,  that  two  of  his  sons,  Hyacinthe  and  Pierre, 
afterwards  took  up  their  residence  at  the  strait  upon 
the  lands  Sieur  Cadillac  had  granted  to  him. 

Of  the  homage  which  Miladi  Barbe  received  from 
the  officers  of  Fort  Pontchartrain  there  was,  besides 


212     A    DAUGHTER    OF   NEW    FRANCE 

myself,  another  witness,  to  whom  the  beauty  of  the 
young  chatelaine  brought  an  unquiet  heart. 

Over  all  the  region  of  Le  Detroit  was  the  glory  of 
autumn.  The  tall  trees  about  the  fort  minded  me 
of  the  spirits  of  departed  Indian  warriors  of  heroic 
mould,  arrayed  in  their  blankets  of  scarlet  and  decked 
in  gold-color,  umber,  and  vermilion.  Already  the 
savages  were  preparing  to  withdraw  farther  into  the 
forest  for  the  hunting. 

At  the  manor  Therese  was  busied  daily  in  super- 
intending the  conserving  of  wild  grapes,  pears,  plums, 
and  quinces  into  sweetmeats  for  winter  use,  and  the 
needle  of  Miladi  Barbe  flew  swiftly,  as  she  helped 
to  fashion  the  garments  of  bright-hued  chintz  cloth 
which  the  ladies  were  accustomed  to  give  as  presents 
to  the  women  of  the  Indian  villages. 

Barbe,  with  a  shrinking  from  the  dark  faces  of  the 
savages,  induced  by  the  tragedy  of  her  infancy, 
would  never  consent  to  visit  these  villages.  Yet, 
with  a  charity  that,  considering  her  antipathy,  par- 
took of  the  heroic,  she  held,  three  times  a  week,  in 
the  outer  kitchen  of  the  manor-house,  a  class  in  sew- 
ing for  young  Indian  girls;  and  on  Sundays  taught 
the  prayers  of  the  Church  to  the  little  red-skinned 
children,  who  loved  her  and  named  her,  after  their 
beneficent  wood-spirits,  "la  Dame  Blanche"  (the 
White  Lady),  because  of  the  exquisite  fairness  of 
her  complexion. 

And  she  grew  fond  of  them  too,  I  know,  and  forgot 
the  duskiness  of  their  skins.  For  with  Barbe  all 
childhood  was  beautiful ;  and  ever,  to  this  day,  even 
in  the  most  wretched  and  unsightly  waif,  she  sees,  I 
think,  the  image  of  the  little  Christ;  as  often,  when 
I  behold  her  soothing  some  little  one,  she  seems  to 
me  a  picture  of  the  sweet  Madonna. 


SCHEMERS  213 

Of  the  girls  who  came  to  her  for  instruction  in 
needlework  there  was  one,  a  slight,  fawn-like  maiden, 
handsome,  as  the  Indians  esteem  beauty;  at  least 
her  eyes  were  flashing,  her  black  hair  glossy  and 
luxuriant,  and  her  teeth  as  white  as  white  wampum 
shells.  So  earnest  though  awkward  at  the  task  was 
this  girl,  that  in  teaching  her  the  gentle  chatelaine 
took  more  care  than  with  any  of  the  others.  Fawn- 
like,  did  I  call  her?  Rather  I  should  say,  mayhap, 
she  was  graceful  and  pleasing  as  the  sparrow-hawk, 
so  admired  for  its  bronze-tinted  plumage  and  the 
flaunting  beauty  of  its  crest  of  scarlet  and  blue  and 
its  red-tipped  wings.  Like  the  sparrow-hawk,  too, 
Bright  Bird  she  was  named,  or  Ishkodah. 

It  was  remembered  afterwards,  that  whenever  Barbe 
took  up  the  rude  handiwork  of  Ishkodah,  to  show 
her  the  better  way  to  set  a  stitch  or  turn  a  seam,  she 
was  sure  to  sharply  prick  her  finger;  and  more  than 
once  the  beauty  of  Miladi's  white  hands  was  marred 
by  a  long  ugly  scratch  from  the  needle  of  the  Indian. 

If  Barbe  suspected  that  these  trivial  happenings 
had  their  origin  in  the  pettiness  of  feminine  malice 
rather  than  accident,  she  said  nothing  on  the  score 
to  any  one.  Very  sure  am  I  that  she  did  not  for  a 
moment  dream  of  the  cause,  much  less  the  extent,  of 
the  maiden's  animosity  to  her. 

One  evening  I  had  chatted  long  with  Frere  Con- 
stantin  over  our  simple  dinner.  It  was  therefore 
later  than  usual  when,  leaving  him  to  the  reading  of 
his  breviary,  I  took  my  way  to  the  manor  to  spend 
an  hour  or  two. 

From  some  distance  off  my  steps  were  guided  by 
the  blaze  from  the  hearth-fire  of  the  salon,  or  main 
apartment  of  the  house.  The  night  being  warm  for 
a  fire  and  yet  too  damp  without  one,  the  shutters  of 


2i4     A    DAUGHTER   OF    NEW   FRANCE 

the  windows  had  been  left  open,  to  temper  the  air 
of  the  room  to  a  pleasant  balminess,  there  being,  of 
course,  no  glass  in  the  sashes. 

Other  illumination  of  the  interior  there  was  none, 
but  as  I  drew  near  I  could  plainly  see  the  occupants : 
Cadillac  smoking  before  the  chimney ;  opposite  to 
him  Therese,  in  the  stately  high-backed  chair  brought 
for  her  from  Quebec,  knitting  in  the  firelight;  and 
near  by,  on  the  settle,  whose  rudeness  was  concealed 
by  beaver  skins,  gaudy  blankets,  and  gay-colored 
cushions  of  swansdown,  sat  Barbe,  a  charming  pic- 
ture in  her  robe  of  sad-colored  satin,  with  its  long 
pointed  waist  and  high  ruff,  her  hair  dressed  high 
and  rolled  back  from  her  face,  save  for  the  short 
locks  that  curled  about  her  brow  and  shell-like  ears, 
—  after  the  coiffure  of  the  fashion  doll  sent  out  from 
France,  the  which  Therese  showed  me. 

Beside  her  sat  the  handsomest  man  at  the  post, 
Dugue,  and  she  was  apparently  giving  him  a  lesson 
in  music  (as  well  as  in  love),  for  between  his  hands 
he  held  her  guitar  in  an  ungainly  manner,  and 
thrummed  upon  the  strings;  whereat  she  laughed, 
and  shook  her  head  with  a  pretty  affectation  of  a 
music-master's  despair  over  a  dull  pupil. 

Now,  though  so  picturesque,  the  scene  was  not  to 
my  liking ;  I  paused  as  though  stayed  by  the  hand 
of  fate,  and  stood  without  in  the  darkness,  looking 
with  moroseness  upon  the  happiness  and  tranquil 
content  within. 

While  I  contemplated  the  tableau,  feeling  that  I 
must  have  a  moment  to  recover  my  equanimity  before 
entering,  I  heard  near  me  a  faint  sigh,  and  glancing 
sharply  about,  I  saw,  crouching  beside  a  lilac  bush 
close  by,  a  blanketed  figure. 

My  hand  sought  my  rapier,  but  presently  I  noise- 


SCHEMERS  215 

lessly  dropped  the  sword  back  into  its  scabbard 
as  I  perceived  the  watcher  was  none  other  than 
Ishkodah,  the  Indian  girl,  the  daughter  of  the  chief 
Mawkwa,  the  Bear,  and  a  belle  among  the  braves  of 
her  village.  Ishkodah,  the  Bright  Bird,  but  how 
changed  !  Never  have  I  seen  jealousy,  anger,  and 
heart-breaking  sorrow  more  clearly  depicted  than 
were  these  emotions  portrayed  upon  the  countenance 
of  this  dark  maid  of  the  forest  as  she  remained  mo- 
tionless, her  gaze  riveted  upon  the  beautiful  white 
lady  and  the  handsome  lieutenant.  And  when  at 
last  the  young  chatelaine  in  gay  desperation  caught 
up  the  guitar  from  the  cavalier,  and  their  hands 
for  a  second  met,  the  agony  that  shook  the  frame  of 
the  unhappy  Indian  girl  caused  me  almost  to  forget 
the  thrill  of  pain  it  had  sent  through  my  own  heart. 

For  there  came  to  me  the  recollection  of  a  story 
Dugue  had  told  me  the  year  before.  One  day  upon 
the  prairie,  hearing  a  cry  of  terror,  he  had  followed 
it,  and  found  this  girl  striving  to  keep  at  bay  a  wild- 
cat by  the  sheer  force  of  her  steady  eye,  while  she 
screamed  loudly  for  help. 

Calling  to  her  not  to  change  her  position,  Dugue 
with  a  shot  from  his  fusee  brought  down  the  panther. 
Seeing  it  was  indeed  dead,  the  girl,  in  the  reaction 
from  her  terror,  caught  the  hand  of  her  deliverer 
and  pressed  it  to  her  heart,  vowing  eternal  gratitude ; 
then  like  a  deer  she  sped  away  to  the  village  above 
the  fort 

At  the  time  we  had  rallied  Dugue*  much  over  the 
adventure,  and  hinted  that  he  had  best  complete  the 
romance  by  taking  a  dusky  bride.  For  Cadillac 
would  fain  have  the  unmarried  men  of  the  settlement 
wed  the  daughters  of  the  forest,  hoping  thus  to  ren- 
der closer  the  friendship  between  the  Indians  and  the 


216     A    DAUGHTER   OF   NEW   FRANCE 

French,  and  Frere  Constantin  was  ever  ready  to  bless 
these  marriages  in  due  form  before  the  altar. 

Veron  de  Grand-Mesnil  had,  shortly  before,  been 
hot  to  espouse  the  daughter  of  the  Pottawatomie 
chief,  Churlioa,  but  her  stern  old  pagan  father  would 
not  hear  of  it,  and  spirited  her  away,  to  be  mated  to 
a  warrior  of  a  distant  tribe. 

Whether  Dugue,  in  the  loneliness  of  our  isolation, 
would  have  succumbed  to  the  charms  of  the  maiden 
whom  by  his  prowess  he  had  saved  from  a  cruel 
death,  it  is  useless  to  surmise.  Soon  after  this  inci- 
dent Madame  Cadillac  and  her  party  reached  Fort 
Pontchartrain,  and  at  the  first  glimpse  of  the  beauti- 
ful widow  of  the  gallant  Le  Moyne,  the  lieutenant,  I 
verily  believe,  promptly  forgot  the  existence  of  the 
Bright  Bird.  With  Ishkodah  it  was  different,  how- 
ever. That  she  still  treasured  the  remembrance  of 
her  deliverer  was  only  too  evident  to  me  as  I  beheld 
her  now.  Doubtless  because  of  his  prompt  response 
to  her  cry  for  succor,  she  had  enshrined  Dugue  as 
the  ideal  warrior  of  her  heart.  For  his  sake  per- 
chance she  had  declined  to  accept  as  a  husband  any 
brave  of  her  tribe.  She  had  seen  one  among  her 
companions  solemnly  married  in  the  church  of  the 
good  Ste.  Anne  to  a  Frenchman ;  why  might  not  a 
like  happy  future  with  the  fair-faced  warrior  be  sent 
to  her  by  the  kind  Manitou  of  whom  Father  Con- 
stantin told  her  people  ? 

Thus  no  doubt  had  she  cherished  the  day-dream ; 
therefore  I  pitied  the  girl.  Still,  I  liked  not  the  fierce- 
ness of  her  visage  as  she  looked  in  upon  the  cheeri- 
ness  of  that  home  room.  She  might  dog  the  footsteps 
of  Dugue  and  make  life  as  miserable  for  him  as  she 
pleased,  for  all  I  cared ;  but  I  would  not  permit  her 
glance  to  rest  longer  on  Barbe.  Who  could  tell, 


SCHEMERS  217 

mayhap  she  might  cast  upon  Miladi  the  Evil  Eye,  or 
weave  about  her  some  uncanny  spell  of  forest  witch- 
craft! 

Ah,  had  I  but  divined,  had  I  so  much  as  dimly 
suspicioned,  the  thoughts  of  vengeance  that  were  tak- 
ing form  in  the  mind  of  the  savage,  what  dire  conse- 
quences might  have  been  averted  !  But  I  saw  only  a 
girl,  who  was  scarce  more  than  a  child,  disappointed 
that  the  hero  of  her  youthful  fancy  was  charmed  by 
the  smile  of  la  Dame  Blanche. 

So  absorbed  was  she  in  watching  the  firelit  scene, 
that  ere  she  felt  my  proximity  I  leaped  forward  and 
grasped  her  arm. 

Only  the  instinctive  caution  of  her  nature  could 
have  checked  the  exclamation  of  alarm  and  surprise 
that  sprang  to  her  lips,  but  which  she  choked  back, 
until  it  might  have  passed  for  the  note  of  a  frighted 
wood-bird. 

"What  does  Ishkodah  here?"  I  demanded  in  a  low 
tone,  yet  with  quiet  sternness.  "  How  is  it  she  is 
within  the  palisade  when,  according  to  the  order  of 
the  Commandant,  the  gates  are  closed  at  nightfall 
and  no  Indian  is  permitted  to  remain  inside  the  fort 
during  the  hours  of  darkness?" 

The  girl  faced  me  with  an  air  of  defiance,  and  said 
in  the  patois,  half  French,  half  aboriginal,  by  which  we 
had  learned  to  communicate  with  the  savages  and  they 
with  us,  — 

"  Ishkodah  was  kept  waiting  too  long  in  the  White 
Chief's  kitchen.  She  had  come  to  the  fort  of  the 
French  with  a  mocock  of  wild  grapes  for  the  wife  of 
the  chief.  When  she  set  out  to  return  home,  it  was 
already  dark  and  the  gates  were  fast  barred." 

"  She  had  but  to  stand  forth  so  that  the  light  of  the 
guard's  lantern  might  fall  upon  her  face,  and  he  would 


218     A    DAUGHTER   OF   NEW   FRANCE 

have  opened  the  wicket  for  her  to  go  out,"  I  answered 
severely.  "  But,  be  this  as  it  may,  I  will  now  set  Ish- 
kodah  free,  that  she  may  return  to  the  lodge  of  her 
mother  as  a  bird  to  its  nest." 

The  maiden  laughed  softly  but  unmusically,  — 

"  The  warrior  of  the  Swan's  Quill  should  know  a 
young  bird  returns  no  more  to  the  nest  when  once 
it  has  spread  its  wings ;  far  more  like  is  it  to  fall  into 
the  snare  of  the  woodsman,"  she  responded  bitterly. 
"  Ishkodah  will  gladly  be  released  from  this  cage  of 
the  white  man ;  in  its  air  she  scarce  can  breathe ;  her 
heart  is  oppressed  as  by  a  heavy  burden,  she  longs 
for  the  peace  and  forgetfulness  of  the  forest." 

"  The  Bright  Bird  will  return  to  the  kitchen  then," 
I  said.  "  She  will  ask  one  of  the  Pani  women  to  go 
with  her  to  the  gate.  If  I  find  she  has  not  departed 
within  half  an  hour,  I  will  have  her  locked  up  in  the 
prison." 

The  girl  clenched  her  hands  and  tossed  back  her 
head  proudly,  but  she  had  no  choice  save  to  obey. 
Casting  upon  me  a  malignant  look,  and  with  a  last 
glance  through  the  window,  she  turned  away  towards 
the  kitchen,  while  I,  passing  on  to  the  gallery,  entered 
the  house  by  the  main  door. 

Later,  I  made  inquiry  of  Sergeant  Jolicoeur  after 
he  had  been  the  round  of  the  sentries,  and  he  told 
me  he  had  himself  opened  the  wicket  in  the  pali- 
sade and  let  Ishkodah  pass  out,  about  nine  of  the 
clock.  He  volunteered  the  further  information  that 
she  often  brought  fruit  to  the  manor  to  exchange  for 
some  trifling  article  of  feminine  adornment,  and  was 
most  eager  to  learn  the  graceful  industries  of  the 
white  women. 

This  good  account  of  the  maid  did  much  to  dispel 
my  uneasiness  over  the  sullenness  I  had  read  in  her 


*4  f :' 


SCHEMERS  219 

face.  Moreover,  a  day  or  two  later,  I  encountered 
her  at  the  door  of  the  church,  and  she  flashed  upon 
me  a  smile  of  rare  radiance,  while  saluting  me  with 
respect.  So  guileless  did  she  appear,  that  I  gave  my- 
self no  further  concern  over  the  recent  occurrence, 
beyond  a  resolution  to  note  her  general  behavior 
toward  the  ladies.  And  I  reflected  't  was  indeed  a 
pity  so  bright  a  creature  should  have  lost  her  heart 
to  Dugue",  who  bestowed  not  a  thought  upon  her,  al- 
though this  was  small  wonder  when  he  might  haunt 
the  sunlight  of  the  presence  of  the  loveliest  lady  in 
New  France. 

A  week  or  more  later,  I  was  at  work  of  a  morning 
in  the  King's  Storehouse,  as  it  was  called,  though  the 
goods  stored  therein,  having  been  secured  by  our 
Sieur,  belonged  not  to  his  Majesty,  but  to  Cadillac. 

I  had  the  ledgers  upon  the  counter  and  was  mak- 
ing entries  of  the  trade  of  the  post,  when  La  Mothe 
came  in. 

"  Normand,"  he  said,  after  making  sure  there  were 
no  eavesdroppers  to  carry  away  his  words,  "  I  have 
now  positive  proof  that  De  Tonty  is  striving  to  ruin 
this  settlement.  He  has  planned  to  establish  a  fort 
on  the  river  of  the  Miamies  and  to  draw  thither  the 
Indians  of  this  neighborhood,  in  order  that  Fort  Pont- 
chartrain  must  needs  be  abandoned.  His  pretext  is 
that  if  the  French  do  not  seize  upon  the  position,  it 
will  be  speedily  occupied  by  the  English.  Of  this, 
however,  there  is  not  the  slightest  danger.  His  real 
object  is  to  weaken  my  authority,  that  he  may  rule  in 
my  stead." 

"Oh,  what  treachery  sometimes  lurks  under  the 
mask  of  loyalty !  "  I  ejaculated,  throwing  down  my 
quill,  for  here  was  a  more  important  matter  than  the 
adding  up  of  accounts  of  peltries. 


220     A    DAUGHTER    OF    NEW    FRANCE 

"Yes,"  continued  my  brother;  "he  has  carried  on 
his  negotiations  with  much  wiliness,  reporting  to 
Quebec  and  Ville  Marie  and  even  to  France  that  the 
lands  about  the  strait  are  unfruitful,  the  fishing  bad, 
the  hunting  rapidly  falling  off." 

I  broke  into  a  laugh  that  any  one  should  make 
statements  so  absurd. 

"  Ay,  't  would  be  a  subject  of  merriment  truly,  were 
not  the  consequences  like  to  prove  no  laughing  mat- 
ter," returned  our  Sieur,  grimly. 

"But  how  did  you  learn  of  these  schemes,  mon 
chevalier?  "  I  asked,  again  intent  upon  the  significance 
of  what  I  had  just  been  told. 

"  In  the  most  direct  way  possible,  yet  one  upon 
which  the  schemer  never  counted.  A  letter  came  to 
me  from  Count  Pontchartrain  himself,  setting  forth  the 
charges  against  me  and  demanding  an  explanation. 
This  I  am  only  too  glad  of  an  opportunity  to  give, 
yet  how  can  I  refrain  from  taking  exception  to  the 
manner  of  the  demand?" 

"  Alack,  be  moderate  in  wording  your  response, 
mon  Sieur,"  I  cried,  "  and  thank  Heaven  the  minister 
has  shown  you  so  great  a  mark  of  his  good-will. 
While  you  possess  his  favor  you  have  the  ear  of  the 
King." 

"  Normand,  you  are  a  wise  counsellor,"  replied  De 
la  Mothe,  with  less  of  excitement.  "  You  shall  write  out 
at  my  dictation  the  letter  I  send  to  France,  and  if  the 
phrases  grow  too  hot,  I  give  you  leave  to  tell  me, 
that  I  may  temper  them.  Yes,  the  Italian  will  scarce 
supplant  me  in  the  confidence  of  the  Count.  Unfor- 
tunately a  consequence  of  his  acts  menaces  us  nearer 
home.  He  has  stirred  up  discontent  among  the  In- 
dians. I  have  noted  many  unfriendly  looks  from 
them  of  late  ;  we  must  beware  of  an  attack.  I  think, 


SCHEMERS  221 

however,  he  has  himself  become  a  trifle  alarmed,  for 
last  evening  when  I  gave  orders  that  the  guard  should 
be  doubled  and  the  garrison  sleep  under  arms,  he 
assented  most  readily." 

"  Nevertheless,  this  was  not  done,"  I  declared, 
starting  up. 

"  Not  done !  "  cried  Cadillac,  astonished  and  in  a 
rage;  "  how  is  that?  Dugue*  and  Chacornacle  heard 
my  order  as  well  as  De  Tonty.  You  know  I  retired 
early  to  my  house  to  read  this  self-same  letter,  but  it 
was  reported  to  me  duly  that  my  commands  were 
carried  out." 

"  Mon  Sieur,  I  have  heard  something  of  this,"  I 
said,  "  for  it  was  commented  upon.  If  you  remem- 
ber, Monsieur  de  Tonty  walked  with  you  to  the 
manor  after  you  had  left  the  barracks." 

"  Yes,  and  descanted  upon  how  we  had  best  con- 
ciliate the  savages,"  rejoined  my  brother,  with  a 
nod. 

"  Exactly.  But  when  he  returned,  he  announced 
that  you  had  countermanded  the  order  you  had  be- 
fore given.  The  guards  were  not  doubled,  there- 
fore, and  the  garrison  slept,  as  usual.  The  report 
you  received  had  reference  to  this  supposed  later 
order." 

For  the  next  few  moments  the  air  scintillated  with 
the  expression  of  Cadillac's  wrath. 

"  It  was  a  daring  game !  "  he  exclaimed  more 
quietly  at  length ;  "  but  I  can  dissemble  as  well  as 
this  false  friend,  if  it  so  suits  my  purpose.  For  the 
present  I  will  feign  to  know  nothing  of  this  dupli- 
city; in  the  future,  however,  Messieurs  Dugue"  and 
Chacornacle  shall  have  warning  to  receive  instruc- 
tions from  no  one  but  the  Commandant  of  this  post, 
either  by  written  order  or  word  of  mouth.  De  Tonty 


222     A   DAUGHTER   OF    NEW   FRANCE 

should  know  ere  now  that  this  fort  is  not  a  King 
Petard's  Court,  where  every  one  is  master.  Nor- 
mand,  you  have  put  me  on  my  mettle.  There  is  a 
parry  for  every  thrust,  and  courage  and  foresight 
vanquish  in  war  more  frequently  than  the  implements 
of  the  trade." 


CHAPTER   SEVENTEENTH 

"THE  COMPANY  OF  NEW  FRANCE" 

THE  next  flotilla  from  Montreal  brought  a  large 
packet  of  mail  which  our  Sieur  withdrew  to 
read  in  solitude.  I  was  at  work  in  the  garden  of 
Frere  Constantin,  planting  the  vines  I  had  brought 
from  the  forest  about  the  house-door,  that  at  the 
coming  again  of  summer  their  beauty  might  conceal 
the  rudeness  of  the  little  cabin.  I  had  been  thus  occu- 
pied for  perhaps  half  an  hour,  when  Sergeant  Jolicoeur 
paused  at  the  gate,  for  the  house  and  church  were 
enclosed  by  a  palisade,  although  the  pickets  were 
not  so  strong  nor  so  high  as  those  of  the  fort. 

"Well,  my  friend,  what  is  it?"  I  asked  bluntly, 
impatient  of  the  formality  of  his  military  salute. 

"  Le  Sieur  Commandant  prays  you  to  give  him 
your  company,  monsieur,"  he  answered,  and  then, 
unbending  a  degree  of  his  soldierly  precision,  added 
with  a  grim  smile, — 

"  '  It  is  a  wise  man  that  leads  anger  by  the  bridle ; ' 
there  is  some  trouble  stirred  up  by  the  Red  Dwarf, 
over  yonder." 

As  he  shot  a  glance  in  the  direction  of  the  bar- 
racks, I  frowned  and,  casting  aside  my  spade  (the 
role  of  gardener  was  new  to  me),  prepared  to  go  at 
once  to  La  Mothe,  surmising  that  he  had  need  of  my 
offices  as  amanuensis. 

"  111  news  is  a  nimble  messenger,  Monsieur  Guyon," 
continued  sturdy  Jean  Joly,  whose  tongue  the  ar- 


224     A    DAUGHTER   OF    NEW    FRANCE 

rival  of  the  convoy  had  unloosed  like  wine.  "  The 
bargemen  say  there  are  great  doings  at  Fort  Fron- 
tenac  over  the  claims  of  the  new  Fur  Company 
of  the  Colony.  I  trust  the  like  may  not  come  to 
pass  here.  Not  a  week  since,  Sans  Remission  saw 
the  Nain  Rouge  prowling  about  on  the  edge  of  the 
wood  ;  this  he  swears  to  !  " 

"  Sans  Remission  had  quaffed  too  deeply  of  the 
juice  of  the  wild  grape,"  I  interrupted  tersely.  "  That 
the  Commandant  has  unwelcome  intelligence  may 
be ;  that  there  is  any  connection  between  his  letters 
from  Quebec  and  the  wanderings  of  an  Indian  gnome 
of  the  forest,  it  is  absurd  to  imagine." 

"  Eh  bien, '  An  old  ape  never  made  a  pretty  grimace,' 
and  I  '11  warrant  the  appearance  of  the  Nain  Rouge 
bodes  no  good,"  muttered  Jolicceur,  shaking  his  head. 

I  waited  to  hear  no  more  foolish  speech  from  the 
brave  sergeant,  often  as  I  had  been  wont  to  humor 
his  loquacity. 

Arrived  at  Cadillac's  quarters,  I  found  myself  in 
an  atmosphere  that  was  as  the  state  of  the  air  when 
the  lightnings  play  over  the  strait  and  the  roll  of  the 
still  distant  thunder  gives  warning  of  an  impending 
storm.  La  Mothe  was  pacing  the  room  like  a  lion 
goaded  to  fury.  In  his  hand  was  a  paper  which  bore 
the  Governor's  seal. 

"  Read  this,  my  chivalrous  secretary,  and  see  how 
I  have  been  made  to  beat  the  bush  that  others  may 
catch  the  birds,  how  I  have  sown  seed  in  the  wilder- 
ness that  others  may  reap  the  harvest,"  he  cried 
passionately. 

I  took  the  document  he  thrust  into  my  face  and 
hastily  ran  my  eyes  over  it.  Thus  it  began :  — 

"  Be  it  known  that  the  Governor  General  and  Intendant, 
in  consequence  of  the  orders  which  they  have  received  from 


"THE   COMPANY   OF   NEW  FRANCE"    225 

the  King,  do  by  these  presents  and  acceptances,  in  the  name 
of  His  Majesty,  cede,  and  convey  to  the  directors  of  the 
Company  of  New  France  from  this  day  forth  the  posts  of  Le 
De'troit  and  Fort  Frontenac,  in  such  condition  as  they  now 
are,  for  the  Company's  use,  to  traffic  in  furs,  to  the  exclusion 
of  all  other  inhabitants  of  said  country,  so  long  as  it  shall 
please  His  Majesty." 


Much  more  there  was,  and  Monsieur  de  Cadillac 
was  invited  to  confer  with  the  directors  and  the 
Governor  as  to  the  sum  to  be  fixed  upon  for  his 
salary  as  Commandant ;  but  the  transfer  was  a  severe 
blow  to  him,  since  by  it  he  lost  his  prestige  as  sole 
ruler  of  the  region  bordering  on  the  strait,  and  the 
permission  to  trade,  which  constituted  the  advantage 
thereof. 

A  few  days  later,  with  the  people  of  the  fort,  I 
watched  an  unexpected  canoe  come  gliding  up  the 
river,  its  pennant  flying,  and  its  painted  sails  filled 
with  the  fresh  west  wind. 

As  it  approached  the  shore,  I  perceived  there  were 
several  passengers,  who  by  their  dress  I  took  to  be 
men  of  note ;  therefore  I  slipped  away,  esteeming 
the  obscure  secretary  of  the  Commandant  would  not 
be  missed  when  visitors  of  distinction  were  to  be 
entertained.  On  such  occasions  I  was  often  beset 
by  a  morose  dissatisfaction  with  myself,  because  I 
was  still  unknown  and  had  made  so  little  of  my  life, 
albeit  I  had  mapped  it  out  in  glowing  colors.  Alack, 
how  well  I  had  learned  that  "  golden  dreams  fill  not 
an  empty  purse,  and  he  who  plants  thorns  will  not 
cull  laurels."  Doubtless  the  strangers  were  travellers 
bound  for  the  upper  peninsula.  The  like  adventur- 
ous spirits  sometimes  came  our  way,  no\y  that  the 
circle  of  the  lakes  was  complete  and  there  was  a 
15 


226     A   DAUGHTER   OF   NEW   FRANCE 

safe  stopping-place  upon  Le  Detroit.  Who  they  were 
I  should  discover  soon  enough,  I  thought,  as  I 
betook  myself  again  to  the  Recollet's  garden. 

Ere  I  had  been  there  long,  however,  Jules,  the 
little  Pani  slave,  came  to  announce  that  our  Sieur 
desired  my  presence. 

In  the  room  of  the  barracks  usually  occupied  by 
the  Commandant  as  a  council  chamber,  sat  De  la 
Mothe  upon  the  dais,  looking  the  personation  of  the 
Thunder  Manitou  turned  to  stone.  Behind  his  chair 
of  state,  De  Tonty  and  the  other  officers  of  the  post 
had  ranged  themselves,  and  before  him  stood  three 
men  in  the  costume  of  civilians,  beneath  the  thin 
veneer  of  whose  courtesy  of  manner  might  be  dis- 
cerned a  certain  arrogance  and  haughtiness. 

A  man  wears  not  his  character  like  his  coat  upon 
the  outside,  and  he  is  sure  to  err  who  would  judge 
another  by  his  gear  alone.  Nevertheless  sometimes 
the  fashion  of  a  knave's  garments  may  furnish  a 
clue  to  the  habit  of  his  mind.  Therefore  I  will  set 
down  a  description  of  these  worthies  as  they  appeared 
at  first  sight  to  us  at  Fort  Pontchartrain,  though  I 
took  little  account  of  the  details  of  their  vesture 
until  afterwards. 

The  first,  a  swarthy  man  of  some  thirty  years  of 
age,  wore  a  suit  of  fawn  color  faced  with  red  and 
ornamented  with  gold  and  silver  buttons.  The  short 
cape  that  hung  over  his  shoulder  was  edged  with  a 
broad  gold  galloon,  and  wound  jauntily  around  his 
hat  was  a  scarlet  riband. 

His  companion  to  the  right  was  a  handsome  fellow 
of  a  fresh,  rosy  complexion,  merry  blue  eyes,  and 
an  easy,  happy-go-lucky  manner.  The  sombreness 
of  his  coat  of  brown  was  relieved  by  facings  of  silk, 
having  peach-tinted  flowers  and  green  leaves  upon  a 


"THE    COMPANY   OF   NEW  FRANCE"    227 

buff  ground.  The  waistcoat  was  of  the  same  silk, 
but  the  breeches  and  stockings  were  of  brown,  and 
upon  his  ringer  he  indolently  spun  a  cap  of  blue 
plush  that  was  laced  down  the  seams  with  gold. 

The  third  was  a  quiet  gentleman,  older  than  the 
others  and  more  dignified  in  his  bearing.  His  habit 
was  all  of  gray  laced  with  silver;  the  quarters  of  his 
shoes  were  scarce  more  than  an  inch  broad,  and  his 
three-cornered  hat  had  no  feather. 

The  two  younger  men  were  'Dos  Blancs,'  —  little 
Jules  had  told  me,  —  that  is,  they  wore  powdered 
peruques,  from  which  their  shoulders  were  white  as  is 
the  coat  of  the  mule  when  he  returns  from  the  mill. 
The  queue  of  their  associate  in  gray  was  neatly 
encased  in  an  eelskin  bag.  These  personages, 
attired  as  they  were  in  the  newest  fashions  of  the 
Colony,  and  affecting  in  the  texture  of  their  garb 
the  fine  cloth  that  had  begun  to  supersede  the  rich 
brocades  and  satins  of  a  decade  past,  seemed  to 
flaunt  their  modishness  before  us  whose  raiment  was 
grown  somewhat  shabby  in  the  wilderness;  for, 
despite  the  skilful  needle  of  Therese,  even  the  grand 
court  apparel  of  Cadillac  began  to  show  some  slight 
signs  of  wear. 

When  I  appeared  at  the  door,  the  Commandant 
made  me  a  sign  to  take  a  place  at  the  writing-table 
near  to  him,  that  I  might  set  down  notes  of  whatever 
might  occur. 

As  I  did  so,  he  said  to  me  in  a  low  tone  wherein 
was  a  ring  of  irony,  — 

"  These  gentlemen  are  Messieurs  Radisson,  Arnaud, 
and  Nolan,  commissioners  of  the  Company  of  New 
France."  Then  turning  to  the  newcomers  with  a 
courtesy  so  elaborate  as  to  have  in  it  a  degree  of 
sarcasm,  he  continued, — 


228     A    DAUGHTER   OF   NEW   FRANCE 

"  Monsieur  Arnaud,  I  will  ask  you  to  state  more 
clearly  what  you  have  just  said  in  part,  that  it  may 
be  duly  recorded." 

Monsieur  Arnaud,  the  man  in  fawn  color,  made  a 
step  in  advance  of  his  colleagues. 

"  Monsieur  de  Cadillac,"  he  said  with  a  profound 
bow,  at  the  same  time  awkwardly  sawing  the  air  with 
his  chapeau,  "  in  accordance  with  the  recent  grant 
to  the  Company  of  New  France,  as  set  forth  in  the 
documents  lately  forwarded  to  you,  we  are  come,  as 
commissioners  of  the  company,  to  take  charge  of 
the  trade  of  Fort  Pontchartrain  ;  and  we  respectfully 
demand  that  you  turn  the  same  over  to  us  without 
delay,  in  compliance  with  the  order  of  the  Governor 
and  Intendant,  and  in  obedience  to  the  will  of  the 
King." 

"  'Sdeath  !• "  I  heard  Cadillac  mutter  under  his 
breath,  and  the  veins  in  his  forehead  grew  purple. 
Howbeit  he  held  his  indignation  in  check  as  a 
master  hand  controls  a  fiery  charger. 

He  was  saved  from  the  necessity  of  replying  im- 
mediately by  Monsieur  de  Radisson,  the  man  in  gray, 
who  interposed  amicably,  — 

"  Be  pleased  to  understand,  Monsieur  de  la  Mothe; 
the  company  undertakes  to  keep  this  fine  fort  and  all 
its  buildings  in  as  good  repair  as  they  now  are,  thus 
relieving  you  of  all  expense  for  the  maintenance  of 
the  same." 

"  Hence,  Monsieur  de  la  Mothe,"  added  Nolan, 
the  young  macaroni  in  brown,  who  must  needs  have 
his  voice  in  the  matter,  —  *'  hence  my  colleagues  and 
myself  are  not  only  appointed  overseers  of  the  store- 
houses, but  are  charged  with  the  care  of  any  advances 
in  moneys  and  goods  made  by  the  King  for  this 
post." 


"THE   COMPANY   OF   NEW  FRANCE"    229 

"  His  Majesty  has  never  made  advances  of  moneys 
nor  goods  for  Fort  Pontchartrain,"  responded  Cadillac, 
proudly. 

Nolan  stared  at  him  in  blank  astonishment,  scarce 
crediting,  I  dare  say,  that  our  Sieur  had  been  so  fool- 
ish as  to  maintain  the  post  out  of  his  private  means. 

"But  his  Majesty  will  make  advances,"  he  said, 
after  a  moment  of  hesitation. 

La  Mothe  smiled  sardonically. 

"  Like  enough,"  he  rejoined  with  emphasis ;  whereat 
Nolan  grew  less  self-assertive. 

"  It  is  also  submitted  to  you,  Monsieur  le  Com- 
mandant," continued  Radisson,  taking  up  again  the 
thread  of  their  discourse,  "  that  the  King  shall 
support  the  garrison  of  the  fort,  but  the  Command- 
ant and  one  other  officer  shall  be  maintained  by  the 
company." 

"Yet  neither  Commandant  nor  officers  shall  trade 
for  furs  with  the  savages  nor  the  French,  under  pain 
of  confiscation  of  said  furs,  and  other  penalties  pre- 
scribed by  the  King,"  interrupted  Arnaud. 

"  Of  the  gains  of  the  company,  however,  the  In- 
tendant  shall  deduct  annually  six  thousand  livres 
French  money,  being  the  gift  of  his  Majesty  for  the 
support  of  honest  families  in  the  country  who  may 
need  assistance,"  concluded  Nolan. 

Cadillac  rose  to  his  feet. 

"Gentlemen,"  he  said  with  a  calmness  that  sur- 
prised all  who  knew  his  impetuosity,  although  'twas 
the  calmness  of  anger  at  a  white  heat,  "you  have 
come  quickly  on  the  heels  of  the  Governor's  messen- 
ger. The  demands  of  the  company  are  of  a  surety 
most  sweeping.  Not  in  this  manner  was  Monsieur  de 
la  Salle  rewarded  by  the  Government  for  his  foun- 
dation in  the  land  of  the  Illenese;  no  such  restric- 


230     A   DAUGHTER   OF    NEW    FRANCE 

tions  were  placed  upon  Monsieur  de  Tonty  when  he 
would  fain  have  established  a  post  on  the  river  of  the 
Miamies."  Here  I  saw  De  Tonty  wince  as  at  a 
poniard's  thrust.  "  It  is  generous  of  the  company  to 
take  off  my  shoulders  the  enormous  expense  of  this 
colony  which  I  have  borne  so  long,"  proceeded 
Cadillac.  "  Still,  I  am  not  altogether  minded  to  give 
up  my  rights  and  privileges,  especially  when  I  have 
a  good  sword  at  my  hand,  faithful  followers,"  — here 
he  looked  around  at  his  officers,  his  gaze  ignoring 
De  Tonty,  —  "  and  a  well-fortified  post  to  aid  me  in 
upholding  my  position." 

"  Rash  Sieur,"  protested  Radisson,  while  his  com- 
panions exchanged  glances  of  uneasiness. 

The  Commandant  broke  into  a  scornful  laugh. 
"  Have  no  fear,  my  doughty  commissioners,"  he  said  ; 
"  it  is  not  my  intention  to  clap  you  into  irons  forthwith, 
even  though  the  company  proposes  to  place  galling 
fetters  upon  me.  However  obtained,  the  order  is 
genuine.  My  rights  have  been  trampled  upon,  my 
possessions  taken  from  me  in  one  stroke.  But  there 
are  things  which  La  Mothe  Cadillac  prizes  more  than 
his  possessions,  more  even  than  his  rights ;  and 
among  these  things  are  his  honor,  and  his  fidelity  to 
the  King.  My  sword,  my  possessions,  my  life,  have 
ever  been  at  the  service  of  his  Gracious  Majesty ;  he 
may  do  with  them  according  to  his  pleasure.  Until  I 
can  state  my  case  to  France  and  receive  a  reply,  I 
will  prove  my  loyalty  by  bowing  to  his  Majesty's  com- 
mand. Howbeit,  have  a  care  that  you  encroach  not 
in  the  least  degree  upon  my  military  prerogative.  I 
am  Commandant  of  Fort  Pontchartrain  and  Seigneur 
of  Le  Detroit,  and  I  shall  enforce  my  authority." 

Thereupon  he  strode  from  the  room  with  the  air 
of  an  offended  prince. 


"THE   COMPANY   OF   NEW  FRANCE"    231 

Without  doubt  the  commissioners  expected  no  dif- 
ferent greeting,  for  when  our  Sieur  had  withdrawn 
thus  in  sullen  haughtiness,  Arnaud  deprecatingly 
shrugged  his  shoulders,  and  turned  to  De  Tonty; 
Nolan  studied  the  rafters,  and  hummed  a  fragment 
of  a  song;  only  Radisson  looked  uncomfortable. 

Dugue  and  Chacornacle,  following  the  example 
of  their  chief,  stalked  out  of  the  chamber,  taking  no 
further  notice  of  the  civilians ;  but  Monsieur  de  Tonty 
in  his  most  urbane  manner  now  approached  the 
strangers. 

"  Messieurs,  your  reception  has  been  somewhat 
warm,  but  I  trust  there  will  be  no  serious  clash  be- 
tween the  company's  commissioners  and  the  mili- 
tary authorities  of  Fort  Pontchartrain.  Nay,  I  feel 
sure  there  will  not  be,  since  we  are  all  such  devoted 
servants  of  his  Majesty,"  he  said  with  a  sinister 
suaveness. 

I,  who  had  stopped  to  gather  up  my  papers,  glared 
at  him  and  tapped  my  sword.  A  hot  speech  was 
upon  my  lips,  but  Monsieur  Radisson  quickly  said : 

"  I  would  fain  assure  Monsieur  de  Cadillac  of  my 
respect  for  his  position  and  authority.  May  I  beg 
of  you,  Monsieur  de  Tonty,  to  convey  to  him  my 
sentiments?" 

His  companions  appeared  surprised,  and  I  read  in 
the  lowering  visage  of  De  Tonty  that  he  was  not  like 
to  burden  his  memory  with  the  commission. 

"Monsieur  de  Radisson,"  I  said,  addressing  that 
gentleman  with  a  courteous  bow,  "I  will  be  pleased 
to  carry  your  message  to  Monsieur  de  Cadillac,  lest 
Monsieur  de  Tonty  may  forget  it." 

De  Radisson  started,  and  a  deep  flush  dyed  his 
cheek  for  a  moment.  But  half  comprehending  that 
I  had  meant  to  warn  him  of  the  friction  between  the 


232     A   DAUGHTER   OF   NEW    FRANCE 

Commandant  and  the  captain  of  the  post,  with  a  dig- 
nified inclination  of  the  head,  he  replied, — 

"  Thanks,  monsieur,  in  any  event  it  will  bear  repe- 
tition ;  I  gladly  accept  the  service  you  offer." 

Then,  with  my  notes  in  my  hand,  I  went  away, 
leaving  the  three  newcomers  to  the  society  of  the 
Italian. 

I  found  Cadillac  at  the  manor.  Our  Sieur  had 
given  orders  that  he  willed  to  be  alone ;  nevertheless, 
braving  his  displeasure,  I  made  my  way  to  the  salon, 
where  he  had  flung  himself  into  a  chair. 

"  Well,  Normand,"  he  cried,  as  I  entered,  "  this  is 
the  hour  of  my  humiliation.  I  must  needs  be  pru- 
dent ;  I  must,  forsooth,  weigh  my  words  as  in  a  gold- 
smith's scales.  You  remember  the  prediction  of  the 
old  hag,  La  Jongleuse,  that  night  at  the  Chateau  of  St. 
Louis.  Is  this  the  first  step  in  the  fulfilment  of  her 
accursed  augury?  Father  de  Carheil  is  gone  from 
Michilimackinac.  Is  his  prediction  come  to  pass? 
Is  the  inheritance  I  have  sought  to  gather  for  my 
children  to  be  scattered  like  chaff?  " 

"  You  take  too  gloomy  a  view  of  the  situation,  mon 
chevalier,"  I  protested,  for  never  had  I  seen  him  so 
depressed.  "  If  a  cloud  for  the  moment  obscures  the 
sunlight  of  your  good  fortune,  it  will  soon  pass,  and 
the  future  will  be  all  the  fairer  for  the  contrast." 

Awhile  longer  he  sat  brooding,  then  suddenly 
started  to  his  feet  with  a  new  energy. 

"  At  least  I  cannot  now  turn  back,"  he  cried. 
"  But,  Normand,  I  charge  you  have  search  made  for 
that  diabolical  creature,  that  incarnation  of  Indian 
malevolence,  the  Red  Dwarf.  We  shall  have  naught 
but  strife  and  dissension  on  Le  Detroit  while  he  roams 
abroad.  I  will  dig  a  prison  deeper  than  the  Mamer- 


«THE   COMPANY   OF   NEW  FRANCE"     233 

tine  for  him  here  within  the  fort;  I  will  have  him 
cast  into  the  depths  of  the  strait,  with  the  grindstone 
of  my  mill  which  this  trading  company  would  take 
from  me  — with  this  grindstone  about  his  neck ;  I  will 
send  him  as  a  gift  to  the  Iroquois." 

"  The  creature  will  be  indeed  more  than  human  if 
he  survives  this  series  of  deaths  to  which  you  con- 
demn him,"  I  responded  dryly. 

Thereat  my  brother  broke  into  a  boisterous  laugh. 

Now  a  laugh,  even  though  wrung  from  an  angry 
heart,  clears  the  air  of  the  spirit,  as  the  report  of  a 
powder-charged  cannon  clears  the  lowering  atmos- 
phere. 

So,  having  fired  off  his  artillery  both  of  indignation 
and  of  half-hearted  mirth,  La  Mothe  grimly  set  him- 
self once  more  to  conquer  circumstance. 


CHAPTER    EIGHTEENTH 

THE  MYSTERIOUS   FIRE 

FIRE !  Fire  !  " 
The  awful  cry  rang  out  in  the  night,  breaking 
the  silence  with  sharp  distinctness,  and,  borne  onward 
by  the  wind,  carrying  terror  to  the  hearts  of  the 
white  settlers  upon  the  shore  of  Le  Detroit.  There 
was  but  one  other  evil  to  be  more  feared,  an  attack 
from  the  savages ;  and  the  colonists,  aroused  from 
the  depths  of  sleep  by  the  sudden  warning,  knew  not 
but  this  fiery  visitation  might  be  a  forerunner  of  a 
still  fiercer  and  more  cruelly  relentless  foe.  The 
house  of  Frere  Constantin,  where  I  lodged,  was  out- 
side the  palisade,  the  good  father  having  wished  that 
his  cabin  and  the  church  might  be  so  located  that 
the  Christian  Indians  as  well  as  his  French  parish- 
ioners might  have  free  access  to  this  little  sanctuary 
in  the  wilderness,  and  be  able  to  claim  the  ministra- 
tions of  the  missionary  at  any  time. 

"  Fire  !     Fire  !  " 

The  shout  of  the  sentinels  quickly  awoke  me,  and 
springing  from  my  bed  of  buffalo  pelts,  I  hastily 
dressed,  and  passing  beyond  the  curtain  of  deerskin 
that  separated  my  room  from  the  main  apartment, 
opened  the  door  of  the  cabin. 

As  I  went  out,  some  one  laid  a  hand  upon  my 
arm.  It  was  Frere  Constantin  in  his  gray  cassock 
and  cowl,  calm,  but  as  ever  prompt  and  resourceful, 
thinking  only  of  hastening  to  the  assistance  of  those 


THE   MYSTERIOUS   FIRE  235 

who  might  stand  in  need  of  his  services,  physical  or 
spiritual. 

Once  in  the  road,  we  saw  before  us  a  bright  light 
like  a  beacon  of  flame,  which  proceeded  from  the 
centre  of  the  fort,  while  the  air  around  us  was  thick 
with  smoke  and  flying  sparks. 

"  It  is  the  manor !  "  I  exclaimed  in  a  frenzy. 

"  I  scarce  think  so,"  replied  Frere  Constantin, 
"  but  you  may  be  right.  God  protect  those  who  are 
in  danger." 

Together  we  ran  to  the  gates  of  the  palisade.  See- 
ing us,  the  guard  threw  open  the  wicket,  but  no 
sooner  had  we  entered  than  he  closed  and  barred  it 
with  a  swiftness  which  I  noted  as  an  evidence  that  he 
had  been  warned  not  to  relax  his  vigilance  at  his 
post  even  though  the  heavens  threatened  to  fall. 

In  truth,  we  had  not  advanced  more  than  a  few  paces 
ere  I  perceived  that  all  the  watches  had  been  doubled. 

"  What  is  afire,  —  the  house  of  the  Commandant  ?  " 
I  demanded  of  one  of  the  sentries. 

"  No,  Monsieur  Guyon,  it  is  the  small  storehouse," 
he  answered;  "  but,  alack,  the  wind  —  " 

We  did  not  wait  to  hear  more,  but  hurried  down 
the  street  of  Ste.  Anne,  guided  by  the  fierce  light, 
which,  reflected  in  the  heavens,  stained  them  a  deep 
crimson.  It  was  as  if  a  blood-red  cloud  hung  over 
the  settlement. 

Yes,  the  smaller  storehouse  was  aflame,  and  about 
it  thronged  the  settlers,  some  striving  to  quench  the 
blaze  with  buckets  of  water  from  the  wells,  many  of 
the  more  energetic  even  attempting  to  bring  it  from 
the  river,  while  others  stood  despairingly  idle,  lament- 
ing the  quantity  of  corn  and  grain  (more  precious 
than  gold)  which  was  fast  being  consumed  by  the 
fiery  cormorant. 


236     A   DAUGHTER   OF    NEW    FRANCE 

Inadequate  as  were  the  means  of  fighting  the  de- 
vouring element,  so  well  did  the  majority  of  the  men 
work  that,  had  the  night  been  still,  I  doubt  not  they 
would  have  been  able  to  keep  the  destruction  from 
spreading. 

But  there  had  been  a  storm  the  day  before,  and 
a  high  autumnal  wind  was  blowing  from  the  Lake  of 
the  Eries. 

From  the  burning  building  the  flames  leaped  up 
in  angry  defiance  of  the  toil  of  the  workers.  Like 
spirits  of  Evil,  or  the  furies  of  the  pagan  Hades,  they 
flung  up  their  long,  cruel  arms  to  the  sky,  or  else, 
ever  stretching  out  farther  and  farther,  grasped  at 
whatever  they  could  reach,  their  hot  breath  a  menace 
of  death  to  those  who  would  restrain  them,  their 
touch  a  seal  of  ruin  and  desolation. 

Within  a  few  minutes  a  brand  cast  high  into  the 
air  from  the  caldron  of  flame  fell  back  upon  the 
larger  structure  called  the  King's  Storehouse,  where 
was  kept  the  main  quantity  of  grain  garnered  for  the 
winter. 

Here  was  indeed  an  appalling  misfortune. 

How  the  Commandant,  officers,  cure,  and  people 
toiled  to  arrest  the  ruthless  havoc  which  threatened 
the  very  existence  of  Fort  Pontchartrain  ! 

Monsieur  de  Cadillac  was  here,  and  there,  and 
everywhere.  Father  del  Halle  worked  with  the 
strength  of  a  warrior,  encouraging  his  people  by  his 
brave  hopefulness,  his  tireless  energy,  his  promptness 
to  see  and  seize  upon  any  position  whence  the  flames 
might  be  fought  with  the  best  chance  of  success. 

For  me,  what  I  did  in  the  beginning  I  scarce 
know,  but  I  trust  I  was  not  behind  in  my  duty,  and 
afterwards  many  spoke  of  my  efforts  in  terms  of 
praise. 


THE    MYSTERIOUS   FIRE  237 

All  at  once,  however,  from  struggling  on  with 
mechanical  earnestness,  I  was  recalled  to  a  strange 
acuteness  of  all  my  mental  faculties  by  a  cry  that 
went  up  near  me. 

"  Another  fire  has  started !  Now  it  is  the 
manor !  See  the  smoke  issuing  from  the  house  of 
the  Commandant !  " 

Therese,  —  her  children,  —  Barbe  ! 

With  a  shout  I  led  the  way  to  rescue  them. 

When  called  out  by  the  alarm,  our  Sieur  had,  it 
seems,  enjoined  his  family  to  remain  within,  deem- 
ing them  safest  beneath  the  shelter  of  their  home 
roof,  for  at  this  time  the  manor  was  in  no  danger 
from  the  conflagration. 

That  this  second  fire  had  been  kindled  separately 
and  was  the  act  of  an  incendiary,  was  proved  by  the 
blazing  mass  of  straw  which  we  found  piled  against 
the  walls  of  the  kitchen. 

The  straw  had  communicated  its  flame  to  the 
thatch  of  dried  grass,  stealing  along  on  the  under  side 
so  that  its  ravages  had  not  been  apparent  until  in  a 
light  cloud  of  smoke  and  flame  it  broke  out  above. 

"  Verily,  Madame  Cadillac  is  a  most  obedient  wife 
to  observe  the  command  of  her  lord  to  stay  at  home, 
even  when  the  rafters  are  burning  over  her  head,"  cried 
Sans  Remission  in  wonder,  as  we  ran  forward. 

Cadillac  was  now  the  first  to  reach  the  door. 

It  was  barred,  but  with  the  strength  of  a  great 
dread  and  excitement  he  and  I  together  broke  it  in 
before  the  others  came  up ;  and  as  the  heavy  oaken 
barrier  fell,  there  poured  from  the  interior  a  dense 
volume  of  blinding  smoke. 

"  The>ese,  Therese,  Antoine,  Jacques  !  "  cried  La 
Mothe,  in  a  voice  of  agony. 

There  was  no  response. 


238     A   DAUGHTER   OF   NEW   FRANCE 

Our  Sieur  wrapped  his  scarf  about  his  head  to 
escape  suffocation,  and  dashed  into  the  house.  Ob- 
serving the  same  caution,  —  for  otherwise  of  what 
service  could  we  be  to  those  we  hoped  to  save?  —  I 
followed  him  close. 

We  found  Therese  sunk  upon  the  settle  in  the 
salon,  her  boys  beside  her.  How  it  happened  that 
she  had  not  made  her  escape  at  the  first  appearance  of 
the  fateful  cloud,  seemed  then  inexplicable.  After- 
wards it  was  most  plain.  Cadillac  caught  up  his 
wife,  and  battling  through  the  smoke,  carried  her 
into  the  open  air.  I  followed  with  young  Antoine ; 
and  Frere  Constantin,  who  had  pressed  in  close  be- 
side us,  brought  little  Jacques. 

No  sooner  had  I  transferred  the  stupefied  older 
boy  to  Sans  Remission,  whom  I  met  as  I  was  coming 
out,  than,  having  inhaled  a  good  breath  of  the  clear 
atmosphere,  I  covered  my  head  again  and  rushed  back 
into  the  house,  groping  my  way  as  best  I  could 
toward  the  rooms  farthest  from  the  entrance. 

"  Barbe  !  Barbe  !  "  I  called.     "  Barbe  !  " 

Not  the  faintest  sound  came  in  answer,  and  a  great 
fear  for  her  clutched  at  my  heart.  Alas,  if  I  should 
not  be  able  to  find  her ! 

Confused  in  my  dark  groping,  I  was  coming  back, 
not  knowing  which  way  to  turn  to  seek  her,  when  I 
tripped  over  something  on  the  floor. 

I  fell  upon  my  knees;  I  felt  the  fine  texture  of  a 
woman's  dress  ;  my  hand  touched  the  soft  hair  whose 
ringlets  and  shining  braids,  or  cadenettes,  I  knew  so 
well. 

Yes,  thank  God  it  was  Barbe.  My  soul  had  cried 
unto  Him,  and  He  had  mercifully  guided  me  to 
where  she  lay. 

There  was  not  a  moment  to  be  lost,  the  flames 


THE   MYSTERIOUS   FIRE  239 

broke  out  around  us ;  she  was  unconscious ;  perhaps, 
after  all,  I  was  too  late. 

Swiftly  I  raised  her  in  my  arms,  and  essayed  to 
make  my  way  out.  The  smoke  wellnigh  overcame 
me;  I  stumbled.  But  —  I  triumphed  over  the  fury 
of  the  element  against  which  I  fought. 

I  approached  the  door;  I  staggered  on,  —  beyond 
the  burning  ring  of  the  gallery,  out  upon  the  green, 
and  gently  laid  the  lifeless  form  of  the  young  Chate- 
laine of  Chateauguay  upon  the  beaver  skin  which  a 
good  woman  who  had  been  ministering  to  the  others 
spread  for  her  upon  the  grass. 

Scarcely  had  I  thus  somewhat  reluctantly  relin- 
quished my  precious  burden,  and  as  I  stood  for  a 
moment  striving  to  get  the  smoke  out  of  my  lungs 
and  eyes,  a  figure  brushed  past  me,  —  a  lithe  slight 
figure  shrouded  from  head  to  feet  in  an  Indian 
blanket. 

Involuntarily,  yet  impelled  by  a  potent  providence, 
as  I  believe,  I  stretched  forth  my  hand,  caught  at 
the  cloak,  and  pulled  it  away  from  the  visage  of  the 
wearer. 

As  I  did  so,  a  low  exclamation  of  astonishment 
broke  from  me.  The  falling  back  of  the  mantle  re- 
vealed the  long,  plaited  black  hair  of  a  woman ;  and 
the  face  that  looked  out  at  me  in  malignant  hatred 
was  the  face  of  the  Indian  girl  Ishkodah. 

"  Imbecile  !  Dupe  !  "  she  hissed  in  a  venomous 
whisper  that  minded  me  of  the  old  tradition  of  viper's 
honey,  and  then  with  a  taunting  smile  slipped  away, 
leaving  the  cloak  in  my  grasp.  Ere  I  could  follow, 
she  had  disappeared  amid  the  confusion. 

"Ha,  ha,  my  pretty  cockatrice,  perhaps  you  know 
more  of  the  origin  of  this  mysterious  fire  than  others 
wot  of  !  "  I  muttered  to  myself,  and  would  have 


24o     A    DAUGHTER    OF   NEW   FRANCE 

cried  out  to  prevent  her  escape  among  the  throng, 
but  at  this  moment  there  was  a  commotion  among 
the  women. 

"  Madame  is  dying,"  wailed  the  tender-hearted 
Franchise,  my  sister's  little  waiting-maid. 

My  heart  almost  ceased  to  beat.  Did  they  speak 
of  Barbe?  I  drew  near  the  group,  feeling  that  I 
must  needs  challenge  and  combat  with  death  for 
her  as  I  had  fought  with  the  fire. 

"  Poor  lady,  she  is  breathing  her  last  sigh,"  con- 
tinued the  affrighted  maiden,  compassionately. 

Miladi  lay  upon  the  pelt,  her  head  pillowed  upon 
the  breast  of  an  older  woman  ;  truly  it  seemed  as  if  her 
gentle  spirit  was  about  to  wing  its  way  to  the  land  of 
the  hereafter,  as  a  white  dove  soars  into  the  sunlit 
skies.  The  woman,  who  gently  chafed  the  lady's 
hands  and  wiped  her  brow,  was  not  disquieted, 
however. 

"Chut,  chut,"  she  said;  "Madame  le  Moyne  is 
not  dying;  the  cool  air  and  the  freshness  of  the  wind 
are  quickly  reviving  her." 

Happily  it  was  so  ;  the  next  moment  Barbe  opened 
her  sweet  eyes.  Her  glance  fell  upon  me,  and  she 
struggled  to  rise. 

"  Normand,  Normand,  I  knew  you  would  come," 
she  faltered,  as  if  forsooth  no  one  but  I  could  have 
rescued  her.  "  And  did  you  save  also  the  little 
creature  who  slept  outside  my  door?" 

I  knelt  down  beside  her. 

"What — whom  do  you  mean,  dear  Barbe?"  I  in- 
quired anxiously. 

"  Oh,  the  poor  little  child  !  "  she  sobbed,  and  turn- 
ing away  put  her  hands  over  her  face  as  though  to 
shut  out  from  her  mind  the  picture  that  arose 
before  it. 


THE   MYSTERIOUS   FIRE  241 

"  Madame  means  the  little  Pani  slave,  Jules,  who 
pesters  her  with  his  childish  affection  and  is  wont  to 
bring  his  mat  of  rushes  and  sleep  every  night  before 
her  door,"  volunteered  Franchise.  "  The  servants  are 
safe ;  they  slept  in  a  separate  cabin.  I  had  a  bed  in 
a  room  beyond  that  of  Madame  le  Moyne.  I  dis- 
covered the  fire  and,  having  called  to  the  ladies, 
rushed  out  to  give  the  alarm." 

All  this  which  I  have  set  down  happened  quickly. 
Only  three  or  four  minutes  had  elapsed  since  I  came 
out  of  the  burning  house.  There  might  still  be  time 
to  succor  the  boy. 

I  sprang  forward,  but  some  one  sought  to  restrain 
me. 

"  Nonsense  !  "  cried  a  man  who  himself  feared  no 
danger ;  "  nonsense  !  would  you  lose  your  life  for  the 
sake  of  a  miserable  redskin?" 

It  was  Dugue. 

I  shook  off  his  grasp ;  I  was  determined  to  make 
the  attempt.  But  as  I  broke  away  from  him  a 
woman's  cry  followed  me,  — 

"  Normand  !  No,  no,  no  !  It  is  too  late  !  Oh,  my 
God,  I  have  sent  him  to  his  death !  " 

It  was  the  voice  of  Barbe,  —  Barbe,  in  an  agony  of 
fear  for  my  safety,  calling  me  back.  Nevertheless  I 
shut  my  ears  to  its  pleading,  for  in  my  heart  still 
thrilled  the  words  she  had  uttered  a  moment  before : 

"Oh,  the  poor  little  child!  Oh,  the  poor  little 
child !  " 

Like  the  sweet  tones  of  Frere  Constantin's  silver 
altar  bell,  they  reminded  me  that  civilized  and  savage 
are  alike  before  the  Infinite. 

"  A  life  is  a  life,"  I  said  to  myself  as  I  sped  away. 
(How  much  passes  in  the  mind  during  a  few  seconds !) 
"  If  my  friend,  if  Pere  Marquette  and  others  have 
16 


242     A    DAUGHTER    OF   NEW   FRANCE 

braved  privation,  hardship,  torture,  nay,  martyrdom 
itself  to  save  the  souls  of  dying  Indian  children,  is  it 
not  meet  that  I  should  do  my  utmost  to  snatch  from 
the  flames  the  body  of  this  poor  little  slave,  if  yet 
there  be  life  in  it?  Have  the  years  I  spent  with  the 
Recollets,  the  lessons  of  self-sacrifice  and  devoted- 
ness  that  they  taught  me,  been  utterly  wasted?  " 

"  The  small  Pani  slave,"  I  cried,  as  I  reached  the 
house  again,  —  "  he  is  within ;  "  and  I  made  for  the 
door. 

"  Hold  !  it  is  madness,"  shouted  Cadillac. 

Frere  Constantin  had  sunk  down  on  the  grass  with 
a  broken  ankle. 

"  I  must  go,  not  you,  Normand,"  he  said. 

I  thrust  him  back  as  he  strove  to  rise.  To  go  in 
by  the  main  entrance  was  now  impossible ;  through 
it  the  smoke  and  flame  were  rolling  out  in  great 
waves.  There  was,  however,  still  a  chance  to  reach 
the  interior  through  a  window  on  the  north  side, 
where  the  fire  had  not  yet  made  headway. 

The  shutters  were  barred ;  Sans  Remission  and 
others  aided  me  to  break  them  in.  As  the  draught 
of  cold  outer  air  penetrated  into  the  room,  a  volume 
of  smoke  poured  forth,  driving  us  back. 

"  You  cannot  go  in,  Monsieur  Guyon,"  declared 
Sans  Remission  ;  "  it  is  folly  to  try." 

For  answer  I  signed  to  him  to  hand  me  the  cloth 
dripping  with  water  which  he  had  made  ready.  He 
did  so,  and  having  fastened  it  over  my  face  I  sprang 
into  the  burning  apartment.  The  heat  was  withering ; 
already  my  throat  felt  parched  and  dry,  the  smoke 
penetrated  into  my  eyes  and  ears  and  nostrils. 
Should  I  turn  back? 

No ;  beyond  was  a  "  poor  little  child,"  whom  I 
could  not  leave  to  perish. 


THE   MYSTERIOUS   FIRE  243 

I  crept  along  the  floor  where  the  smoke  was  less 
dense ;  I  fell,  and  for  a  second  must  have  lost  con- 
sciousness. Again  I  revived  and  dragged  myself 
onward.  Was  the  struggle,  was  this  intense  suffer- 
ing to  be  all  in  vain?  Alas,  I  could  battle  against 
such  fearful  odds  no  longer,  my  strength  was  ex- 
hausted. With  a  moan  I  sank  prone  on  the  floor;  I 
stretched  out  my  arms  despairingly,  thinking  my  last 
hour  was  come.  Truly,  I  believe  this  would  have 
been  my  end  had  not  it  been  decreed  otherwise. 
But  when,  as  though  in  an  appeal  to  Heaven  to 
witness  that  I  had  done  my  best,  I  thus  flung  out  my 
hands,  I  brought  them  down  upon  a  small  moccasin. 

I  stretched  them  farther  and  grasped  a  little  foot. 
I  had  found  the  child. 

The  excitement  of  the  discovery  renewed  my 
strength.  I  drew  myself  along  a  few  paces  more, 
and  put  an  arm  around  the  limp  form  of  the  boy; 
then,  holding  him  fast,  I  strove  to  retrace  my  way 
across  the  floor  to  the  window,  being  guided  by  the 
repeated  calls  of  the  men  without,  though  I  could 
not  reply  to  them. 

At  the  present,  of  a  truth,  I  cannot  tell  how  I 
accomplished  the  terrible  journey.  In  the  end, 
those  who  were  near  the  window  must  have  pressed 
forward  and  drawn  us  out. 

This  is  all  I  know,  —  I  am  still  alive,  and  the  Pani  is 
alive.  And,  albeit  he  long  ago  received  his  liberty, 
he  persists  in  regarding  himself  as  my  slave,  and  as 
my  major-domo  here  in  Louisiana  guards  my  interests 
like  a  faithful  watch-dog.  For  the  foolish  fellow  says, 
to  me  belongs  the  life  I  gave  him  back  by  bringing 
him  out  of  the  fire  at  Fort  Pontchartrain. 

With  the  laying  of  the  manor  in  ashes  the  disasters 
of  the  night  were  not  over.  While  the  house  of  Ca- 


244     A    DAUGHTER    OF   NEW   FRANCE 

dillac  was  yet  burning,  another  cry  arose ;  the  church 
was  in  flames.  And  scarce  had  the  realization  of  this 
catastrophe  come  home  to  us,  when  a  blood-curdling 
whoop  resounded  above  the  din  and  confusion  of  the 
scene.  The  disaffected  Indians  of  the  neighborhood 
had  combined  to  attack  us. 

"  I  will  go  out  and  bid  them  disperse ;  I  have 
ministered  to  them,  they  will  heed  my  words,"  an- 
nounced Frere  Constantin,  boldly.  "  Besides  my 
duty  to  you,  my  people,  I  must  do  my  utmost  to 
save  the  church." 

But,  even  as  he  spoke,  the  pain  of  his  broken  ankle 
caused  him  to  sink  down  upon  the  bench  outside  the 
barracks,  whither  I  also  had  been  led,  weak  and  dizzy 
from  the  smoke  of  the  fire  and  my  late  exertions. 

Another  savage  yell  rent  the  air,  and  a  rain  of  flint- 
headed  arrows  pelted  against  the  palisade. 

"  Pardieu,  my  good  friend,  in  face  of  such  a  storm, 
how  many  paces  do  you  think  you  would  get  from 
the  fort,  though  you  were  as  swift  as  Hermes?" 
returned  Cadillac,  grimly.  "  Rest  assured,  though 
your  feet  were  shod  with  wings  and  you  were  gifted 
with  immortality,  I  would  not  open  the  gates  for  you 
now,  nor  for  any  one,  unless  it  were  to  admit  some 
unfortunate  French  settler  who  found  himself  on  the 
wrong  side  of  them  and  yet  stood  a  chance  of  life, 
a  contingency  not  probable.  As  for  your  hope  to 
dissuade  the  fiends  without  from  their  purpose,  they 
would  not  listen  to  a  messenger  from  the  skies.  You 
would  but  throw  away  your  life  to  no  avail." 

It  was  only  too  evident  that  the  church  must  burn 
without  a  hand  being  raised  to  save  it. 

Our  Sieur  quickly  adopted  his  plan  of  defence. 
So  unflagging  were  his  watchfulness  and  the  strict- 
ness of  the  discipline  maintained  since  he  had  knowl- 


THE    MYSTERIOUS    FIRE  245 

edge  that  the  savages  were  ill  disposed  toward  us, 
that  even  during  the  conflagration  the  garrison 
had  been  kept  under  arms  and  ready  for  the 
emergency. 

Now  they  received  orders  not  to  open  fire  upon 
the  enemy  until  the  Indians  should  be  close  to  the 
palisade. 

All  at  once,  however,  the  sharp  crack  of  a  shot 
from  a  fusee  arose  above  the  whizzing  of  the  arrows. 

Cadillac  started. 

The  report  was  followed  by  another,  and  then  a 
third. 

"  Sacre,  who  has  supplied  the  red  devils  with 
powder  and  ball  ? "  he  exclaimed  with  fierceness. 
"There  has  been  treachery  within  the  fort  as  well 
as  without." 

The  savages  were  now  close  upon  us.  Clamoring 
ominously,  they  beat  against  the  palisades  with  their 
battle-axes  and  strove  to  force  the  gates. 

The  shrieks  of  the  women  and  children  within  the 
enclosure,  the  spectacle  of  the  burning  church  now  a 
pillar  of  flame,  the  doom  that  to  all  appearances 
awaited  the  fort  and  all  who  were  gathered  therein, 
were  enough  to  appall  the  stoutest  heart. 

La  Mothe  remained,  notwithstanding,  undismayed. 
His  anger  died  away ;  with  absolute  coolness  he  gave 
the  word  to  his  troops. 

A  volley  of  musketry  poured  down  upon  the  foes 
now  at  such  short  range.  Ere  they  could  recover 
from  their  surprise,  for  they  thought  us  unprepared, 
another  volley  swept  through  them  with  excellent 
aim,  we  judged,  from  the  manner  of  their  falling 
back. 

Unaccustomed  as  they  were  to  the  use  of  firearms, 
happily,  their  fusees  sometimes  failed  them,  whereas 


246     A    DAUGHTER    OF   NEW   FRANCE 

even  their  terrible  arrows  were  ineffective  before  the 
deadly  bullets  of  our  soldiery. 

They  renewed  the  attack  again  and  again,  each 
time  with  a  more  desperate  fury.  Had  the  Hurons 
and  Outawas  of  the  surrounding  villages  joined  these 
disaffected  Pottawatomies,  doubtless  the  fate  of  Le 
Detroit  would  have  been  sealed. 

But  those  strange  neighbors  remained  passive  and 
indifferent;  during  the  conflagration  that  had  dyed 
the  heaven  with  blood,  during  the  pandemonium  of 
the  attack  upon  us  by  their  red  brothers,  their  forts 
showed  not  a  light. 

The  strength  of  the  savage  besiegers  was  broken. 
Our  soldiers  still  kept  up  a  brisk  peppering  with 
their  muskets,  and  in  the  streets  of  the  little  town  the 
women  and  children  knelt  and  prayed. 

Frere  Constantin,  despite  his  disabled  foot,  dragged 
himself  about,  sustaining  the  courage  of  the  men; 
and  though  an  arrow  grazed  his  hair,  he  was  not  in 
the  least  perturbed.  "  He  should  have  been  a  sol- 
dier," I  said  to  myself;  yet,  after  all,  did  not  his 
calling  demand  as  great  valor  as  that  of  the  bravest 
warrior? 

With  the  fine  firelock  I  had  brought  from  France, 
I  blazed  away  at  the  redskins  as  persistently  as  any 
of  the  men. 

At  length,  finding  themselves  worsted,  they  turned 
and  fled  to  the  woods  ;  they  had  counted  upon  taking 
us  unawares;  instead,  we  repelled  and  put  them  to 
rout. 

Our  shout  of  triumph  caused  the  forest  to  ring 
again  and  again,  and  was  a  taunt  in  their  ears  as  they 
ran,  — those  who  were  left  of  them.  As  a  precaution 
against  their  return  in  greater  numbers,  Cadillac  kept 
the  men  still  at  their  posts. 


THE   MYSTERIOUS   FIRE  247 

It  was  broad  day  ere  he  permitted  the  gates  to  be 
opened  and  the  wounded  brought  in  as  captives. 

Among  the  prisoners  was  the  Chief  Osawwane- 
mekee,  Yellow  Thunder,  who,  being  slightly  disabled, 
had  been  abandoned  on  the  field. 

"You  are  Osawwanemekee?"  questioned  De  la 
Mothe  when  the  warrior  was  led  before  him. 

The  Yellow  Thunder  sadly  bowed  his  head. 

"  I  am  Osawwanemekee,"  he  replied  haltingly. 
"  If  you  will  provide  me  a  faithful  interpreter,  I  will 
tell  you  whatever  I  know  that  may  be  of  service  to 
you ;  my  people  abandoned  me,  I  will  have  ven- 
geance upon  them." 

De  Lorme  was  accordingly  called,  and  through 
him  the  Commandant  addressed  the  old  chief  as 
follows  :  — 

"  Yellow  Thunder,"  he  inquired  with  frowning 
sternness,  "  how  is  it  that  you  have  forgotten  the 
obedience  you  pledged  to  Onontio,  your  great  father 
at  Quebec,  by  many  necklaces;  that  you  have  for- 
gotten the  branch  of  porcelain  you  brought  to  me  as 
a  peace  offering  not  long  since  ?  Had  you  no  pity 
upon  the  women  and  children  of  your  tribe  ?  Now 
your  life  is  in  my  hands;  your  furs  must  be  given  up 
to  me;  your  children  shall  not  haye  so  much  as  a 
bone  to  gnaw." 

"  My  father,"  began  the  wily  Osawwanemekee,  "  I 
am  so  filled  with  shame,  I  know  not  if  I  shall  have 
strength  to  speak  to  you.  Have  pity  on  me,  my 
father,  for  I  am  in  despair  at  the  bad  conduct  which 
I  have  committed.  I  have  risked  everything,  but  I 
will  die  by  the  hand  of  my  father.  My  people  have 
fled  from  his  anger,  and  from  the  anger  of  Onontio. 
They  abandoned  me  because  I  am  old,  but  I  will 
show  them  I  am  not  too  old  to  take  vengeance.  I 


248     A    DAUGHTER    OF   NEW    FRANCE 

will  tell  my  father  everything.  Let  him  seek  out 
and  punish  those  who  have  offered  him  necklaces 
with  one  hand  and  drawn  them  back  with  the 
other. 

"  Know  then,  my  father,  this  attack  on  the  fort  of 
our  white  brothers  was  long  planned. 

"  But  our  great  chief  Mawkwa,  the  Bear,  needed  an 
ally  inside  the  fort,  for  the  palisades  are  firm  as  the 
trees  of  the  forest,  and  the  gates  are  strong.  Some 
one  the  warriors  needed  to  create  a  confusion  like 
the  dicing  of  Yen-ad-dizee,  the  Storm  Gambler, 
within  the  fort,  and  then  when  this  conflict  should 
be  at  its  height  to  open  the  gates  to  us." 

Cadillac  fixed  the  eye  of  the  savage  in  fierce 
warning. 

"  Osawwanemekee,"  he  said,  "  if  you  tell  not  the 
truth,  and  the  whole  truth,  I  will  have  you  torn 
limb  from  limb,  and  your  body  I  will  deliver  over 
to  be  burned." 

"  My  father,  I  will  tell  you  the  truth,"  answered 
the  Yellow  Thunder. 

"  There  are  those,  my  father,  who  wished  to  take 
me  by  the  end  of  the  finger,  those  that  you 
have  held  by  the  hand.  They  would  not  open  the 
gates,  indeed,  but  they  were  not  angry  because  we 
wished  to  open  the  gates.  Yet  were  they  minded 
to  put  our  warriors  off  for  a  while.  Our  warriors 
would  not  be  put  off.  They  found  some  one  to  do 
their  bidding.  A  daughter  of  the  forest  had  given 
her  heart  to  the  white  chief  of  the  sure  aim  (Dugue). 
But  the  white  chief  scorned  her  for  the  sake  of  the 
woman  whose  cheek  is  like  the  red  and  white  of 
the  blossoms  in  the  '  Moon  of  Flowers.' " 

"The  forest  maid  was  Ishkodah,"  I  muttered  under 
my  breath. 


THE   MYSTERIOUS   FIRE  249 

"  Ishkodah,  the  Fury,"  repeated  Osawwanemekee, 
albeit  my  lips  had  scarce  framed  the  name. 

"  The  maid  tried  to  win  the  heart  of  the  French- 
man by  witchcraft;  her  spells  were  in  vain;  the 
white  woman  was  a  greater  enchantress  than  she. 
Ishkodah  resolved  to  take  revenge  on  the  woman. 
She  invoked  the  Red  Dwarf;  she  came  to  a  Medicine 
Man  of  the  tribe,  and  telling  him  her  story,  asked 
what  she  should  do  to  be  rid  of  the  flower-faced 
woman  with  shining  hair.  The  Medicine  Man  was 
in  the  counsels  of  the  warriors.  He  put  her  off,  say- 
ing he  would  consult  his  Manitou.  He  told  the 
braves  what  he  had  learned,  and  they  commanded 
him  to  bid  Ishkodah  set  fire  to  the  fort. 

"  But  with  this  alone  '  The  Fury,'  was  not  satisfied ; 
the  woman  with  hair  like  the  silk  of  the  maize  might 
escape.  The  Medicine  Man  knew  Ishkodah  often 
went  to  the  kitchens  of  the  white  men's  lodges  with 
berries  and  plums  for  their  women.  He  gave  her  a 
powder  made  from  the  leaves  of  the  poison  blossom, 
and  bade  her  spill  it  in  the  dish  of  sweetmeats  the 
Pani  woman  is  wont  to  prepare  for  the  table  of  my 
father,  —  a  strange  powder  that  causes  heavy  sleep. 
The  fair-faced  woman  with  shining  hair  would  taste 
of  the  sweetmeats,  she  would  sleep;  her  beautiful 
body  would  be  consumed  in  the  fire,  her  soul  be 
carried  off  by  the  Blue  Spirits  of  jealousy  who  came 
to  the  aid  of  the  daughter  of  the  forest." 

"  Fiend !  "  cried  Cadillac,  springing  up  when  this 
speech  had  been  interpreted  to  him.  "  So  this  in- 
fernal Red  Dwarf  is  one  of  your  Medicine  Men?  " 

"The  Red  Dwarf  is  the  Demon  of  the  Strait," 
rejoined  Osawwanemekee,  imperturbably. 

Cadillac  broke  into  a  harsh  laugh. 

"  Chacornacle,  have  search  made  again   for   this 


250     A    DAUGHTER    OF   NEW    FRANCE 

Nam  Rouge.  We  will  show  the  savages  promptly 
that  he  is  no  more  than  human,"  he  said.  "  Ma  foi, 
if  he  is  so  great  a  curiosity,  I  will  send  him  as  a  pres- 
ent to  Onontio.  Perhaps  he  may  stir  up  troubles 
among  my  enemies  at  Quebec  which  will  prevent 
them  from  meddling  with  me  and  my  affairs  here. 
As  for  this  girl,  see  that  she  be  apprehended  with 
all  speed.  She  shall  be  flayed  alive !  She  shall  be 
consigned  to  the  stake  and  suffer  worse  tortures  than 
those  she  designed  for  Madame  de  Chateauguay, 
since  she  shall  have  no  soporific  to  deaden  them. 
A  fury  indeed  she  is,  thus  to  seek  to  destroy  a 
lovely  lady  who  never  knowingly  did  harm  to  her 
nor  to  any  one.  A  fury !  she  would  have  made  my 
wife  and  children  her  victims  as  well !  And  —  " 

La  Mothe  stopped  short ;  the  extent  of  the  plot 
was  truly  appalling. 

"Yes,  my  father,"  proceeded  the  chief,  reading 
his  thoughts ;  "  the  braves  whispered  together. 
'  Our  father  too  will  fall  under  the  power  of  the 
dream  blossom/  they  said ;  '  he  will  be  heavy  with 
sleep,  and  cannot  order  the  French  soldiers  when  we 
come  down  upon  them.'  " 

"  And  providentially,  I  supped  last  night  with 
Frere  Constantin  and  you,  Normand,"  murmured 
my  brother,  in  an  aside  to  me. 

Then,  turning  toward  Yellow  Thunder,  he  contin- 
ued: "  You  see,  Osawwanemekee,  the  great  Manitou 
of  whom  Father  Constantin  has  told  you  guards 
and  protects  me.  The  charms  and  herbs  of  your 
Medicine  Men  are  powerless  against  me.  They  could 
not  harm  the  fair-faced  women  of  our  fort,  because 
the  hearts  of  these  women  are  white  as  the  snows 
of  the  wilderness  in  winter,  not  black  with  hatred, 
like  to  a  nest  of  serpents  in  a  noisome  hole  of  the 


THE   MYSTERIOUS   FIRE  251 

fens,  such  as  is  the  heart  of  this  girl.  Chacorna- 
cle,  have  search  made  for  her  at  once ;  she  must  be 
still  in  hiding  within  the  fort,  for  how  could  she 
escape?  " 

"  You  may  search,  my  father,  but  you  will  not 
find  her,"  interposed  Osawwanemekee,  divining  the 
orders  of  Cadillac  from  his  gestures.  "  The  Bright 
Bird  does  not  stay  to  be  captured ;  it  flies  away  over 
the  woods ;  it  will  mate  in  another  country.  There 
is  a  young  warrior  who  loves  the  beautiful  Fury.  He 
liked  not  the  love  glances  she  cast  at  the  Frenchman. 
He  has  taken  her  away;  he  would  kill  her  rather 
than  let  her  return  to  look  upon  this  white  chief 
again." 

Thus  was  the  plot  laid  bare.  There  could  be  no 
doubt  that  Monsieur  de  Tonty,  if  not  directly  impli- 
cated, yet  was  not  averse  to  any  uprising  of  the 
Indians  which  would  cause  the  ruin  of  the  post. 
True,  it  is  probable  he  was  anxious  to  stave  off  the 
attack  until  the  spring,  when  his  wife  and  children 
would  be  on  their  way  to  Montreal,  whither  he  in- 
tended to  send  them  for  a  time.  And  assuredly  he 
did  not  design  the  destruction  of  his  own  house, 
which  was  burned  to  the  ground  as  well  as  the  manor 
of  Cadillac,  the  residence  of  the  cure,  and  the 
church. 

But  he  had  allowed  the  Indians  to  perceive  his 
disaffection  toward  our  Sieur,  and  they  had  counted 
for  success  upon  this  lack  of  cordial  relations  between 
the  Commandant  and  his  captain. 

As  for  the  Indian  maiden,  we  found  no  trace  of 
the  handsome  but  malicious  Ishkodah.  It  was  after- 
wards reported  that  having  been  carried  away  beyond 
the  woods  by  the  brave  to  whom  her  people  had 
married  her,  she  fled  from  him,  and  cast  herself  into 


252     A   DAUGHTER   OF   NEW   FRANCE 

the  Lake  of  Otsiekitah.1  'Tis  said  that  from  the 
depths  of  these  placid  waters  may  still  be  heard,  on 
autumnal  evenings,  the  sad  voice  of  the  unhappy 
daughter  of  the  forest,  by  turns  wailing,  despairing, 
or  repentant ;  and  the  answering  lament  of  her  Indian 
lover  from  the  shore. 

i  Ste.  Claire. 


CHAPTER  NINETEENTH 

OUR  PRETTY  COMMISSIONERS 

THE  red  men  had  attacked  us,  and  they  had 
been  driven  back.  Above  the  bastions  of 
Fort  Pontchartrain  .the  fleur-de-lis  still  waved,  and 
the  little  colony  of  Le  Detroit,  far  from  being  annihi- 
lated, was  already  planning  to  extend  its  boundaries. 

It  is  true  Mesdames  Cadillac  and  De  Tonty  and 
the  Chatelaine  of  Chateauguay,  left  without  shelter 
by  the  incendiary  fire,  were  compelled  to  spend  the 
winter  in  huts  scarce  better  than  the  lodges  of  our 
Huron  neighbors;  but  this  they  endured  without 
complaint.  Our  Sieur  designed  to  build  in  the 
spring  a  manor  more  imposing  than  the  first;  De 
Tonty  too  was  to  erect  a  larger  house,  and  the  new 
church  and  a  residence  for  Frere  Constantin  were 
to  be  upon  a  more  extensive  scale  than  the  struc- 
tures that  had  been  destroyed. 

One  afternoon  at  the  beginning  of  the  Moon  of 
Beavers,  while  on  a  stroll  through  the  settlement, 
I  chanced  to  find  myself  upon  a  secluded  path 
that  lay  behind  the  storehouses,  which  were  already 
rebuilt  in  a  temporary  fashion. 

As  I  passed  a  cabin  that  had  remained  a  ruin  since 
the  fire,  I  noted  there  was  water  in  the  cellar  and, 
peering  into  the  stagnant  pool,  caught  a  glimpse  of 
a  furry  object  which  I  took  to  be  the  yellow  gray 
breast  of  a  wolf. 


254     A   DAUGHTER    OF   NEW   FRANCE 

"  If  it  is  a  whelp,  I  will  tame  it  as  a  present  for 
Miladi  Barbe ;  if  an  old  one,  still  I  will  take  it  alive 
if  possible,"  I  soliloquized,  as  rapier  in  hand  I  entered 
the  cellar.  'Twas  as  well  to  be  on  guard  against  a 
sudden  spring  from  the  creature,  should  it  prove  so 
ferocious  as  to  be  unmanageable  otherwise. 

Ha,  ha,  ha,  it  moves  me  to  mirth  to  think  of  the 
adventure,  and  of  the  jest  upon  myself.  The  furry 
animal  stirred  not,  and  concluding  it  must  be  dead, 
I  poked  it  with  the  end  of  my  blade.  Chut,  how 
I  had  been  fooled !  Miladi  would  not  have  for  a 
plaything  a  cub  of  this  breed ;  it  was  not  a  thing  of 
flesh  and  blood  at  all  that  I  fished  out  of  the  water 
on  the  point  of  my  sword. 

It  was  a  beaver  skin,  and  bore  the  mark  of  the 
company,  together  with  the  number  229.  I  found 
another  also,  like  to  the  first.  They  were  not  spoiled 
by  the  water,  and  the  discovery  of  them  in  so  strange 
a  place  convinced  me  that  the  storehouse  had  been 
robbed. 

Accordingly  I  availed  myself  of  a  pretext  to  go 
there,  and  quietly  made  an  examination.  The  result 
was,  —  I  reported  the  matter  to  our  Sieur. 

"  It  is  as  I  anticipated,"  he  said,  to  my  surprise,  and 
presently  proceeded  to  give  me  further  instructions. 

The  river  being  still  open  and  free  of  ice  save  at 
the  margins,  that  evening,  with  Jolicceur  and  two 
other  soldiers,  I  crossed  it  in  a  canoe.  The  night 
was  dark,  and  the  paddles  of  our  Indian  boatman 
scarce  made  a  sound  as  our  craft  of  cedar  bark 
shot  swiftly  across  the  current  of  the  strait.  We 
landed  in  silence,  yet  the  savages,  ever  on  the  watch, 
knew  of  our  coming  ere  we  stepped  ashore,  and  at 
the  entrance  to  their  village  we  were  met  by  the  chief 
Quarante  Sols,  in  a  quarrelsome  mood. 


OUR   PRETTY   COMMISSIONERS      255 

"  If  you  are  come  upon  a  peace  errand,  where 
is  your  necklace  of  wampum?"  he  demanded  sul- 
lenly. 

"  Quarante  Sols,"  I  said  with  sternness,  "you  know 
the  French  have  no  need  to  give  branches  of  porce- 
lain as  pledges  that  they  mean  to  keep  faith.  It  is 
only  the  false  Indian  who  must  give  them,  else  he 
will  not  be  believed.  The  word  of  your  Father 
Monsieur  de  Cadillac  is  worth  many  branches  of 
porcelain,  and  as  binding  as  many  necklaces.  When 
I  tell  you,  in  his  name,  we  are  come  with  no  evil 
intent  to  you,  this  should  suffice.  If  you  seek  to 
prevent  us  from  carrying  out  the  orders  of  your 
Father  Monsieur  de  Cadillac,  he  will  think  you  have 
a  part  in  the  crime  he  would  unearth,  and  you  will 
share  the  punishment  of  the  other  wrongdoers." 

The  warning  had  its  effect ;  the  attitude  of  Quarante 
Sols  from  defiance,  nay,  even  menace,  changed  to  a 
surly  acquiescence.  All  the  braves  of  the  village  had 
gathered  about  him,  glowering  upon  us  in  a  manner 
that  augured  that  we  might  resign  ourselves  to  a 
speedy  despatch  to  the  better  world  if  the  chief  gave 
the  sign  to  his  followers. 

Afterwards  Jolicceur  averred  that  my  boldness  had 
much  to  do  with  saving  us ;  but  I  scarce  thought  of 
our  danger,  being  intent  on  the  mission  on  which  we 
were  sent. 

Waving  back  his  warriors  with  the  majesty  of  a 
prince,  Quarante  Sols  now  asked  in  a  more  concilia- 
tory tone  what  we  would  have  of  him. 

I  explained  our  errand. 

"  Chief  of  the  Swan's  Quill,  you  who  send  the 
words  of  my  Father  Monsieur  de  Cadillac  across 
the  seas,"  he  made  answer,  "  neither  Quarante  Sols 
nor  his  people  have  to  do  with  this  wrong  whereof 


256     A   DAUGHTER   OF   NEW   FRANCE 

you  speak.  They  will  not  cross  the  will  of  their 
Father.  Go,  do  his  bidding  in  the  matter." 

Without  hindrance,  therefore,  we  proceeded  on  our 
way  until  we  reached  the  farther  extremity  of  the 
settlement.  Here  was  a  hut  that  had  apparently 
been  abandoned  by  some  Huron  for  a  more  com- 
modious lodge.  Into  it  we  would  have  plunged, 
but  at  the  moment  there  rose  up  before  us  a  man 
whom,  even  in  the  semi-darkness,  we  recognized  as 
not  an  Indian. 

The  light  of  a  pine  torch  which  one  of  our  sol- 
diers quickly  flashed  upon  him  showed  him  to  be  a 
servant  of  the  commissioner  Arnaud.  Seeing  that 
resistance  was  useless,  he  surrendered  himself  a 
prisoner,  and  acknowledged  that  he  was  there  by 
command  of  his  master. 

In  the  hut  we  found  a  great  quantity  of  beaver 
pelts  which  we  brought  back  with  us.  Thus  we 
had  done  a  good  night's  work. 

On  our  return  I  presented  myself  before  our 
Sieur. 

"  Monsieur  de  la  Mothe,"  I  said,  "  I  have  the  honor 
to  report  to  you  that  in  the  Huron  village  we  found 
nineteen  packs  of  fine  otter  and  beaver  skins,  con- 
cealed by  the  commissioners  Arnaud  and  Nolan." 

"  They  are  most  audacious ;  I  did  not  expect  so 
much  from  there,"  he  exclaimed.  "  In  truth, 
Normand,  after  you  were  gone,  I  regretted  sending 
you  upon  so  hazardous  an  expedition." 

"Tee,  I  had  no  fear  of  the  Indians,"  I  cried.  "I 
have  never  done  aught  against  them,  and  have  been 
much  among  them  with  Frere  Constantin.  More- 
over, do  they  not  always  hold  in  respect  those  who 
maintain  toward  them  a  confident  bearing?" 

La  Mothe  sighed.     "  Sometimes  I  think  the  good 


OUR   PRETTY   COMMISSIONERS     257 

Recollet  over-rash,"  he  said  musingly.  "  It  is  not 
always  safe  even  for  a  saint  to  thrust  his  head  into 
the  lion's  jaws." 

"Who  would  injure  Monsieur  del  Halle?"  I  pro- 
tested lightly.  "  Why,  the  fiercest  warriors  become 
with  him  as  docile  as  children ;  and  he  is  as  devoted 
to  the  interests  of  his  savage  neophytes  as  to  the 
French  at  the  fort.  But  as  to  these  dishonest 
commissioners,  surely  they  will  need  all  their  influ- 
ence with  the  powers  that  be  when  their  peculations 
become  known !  " 

My  brother  laughed  sardonically. 

"  This  is  by  no  means  the  limit  of  their  stealings," 
he  declared.  "  They  have  defrauded  the  company  of 
furs  to  the  value  of  fourteen  thousand  francs.  They 
have  relatives  among  the  directors  of  the  company,  but 
this  fact  shall  not  save  them.  It  is  my  duty  to  report 
the  matter  to  Ville  Marie  and  to  demand  their  recall. 
To-morrow  morning  you  shall  write  out  the  letters 
according  to  my  dictation." 

After  much  delay,  Arnaud  and  Nolan  were  sum- 
moned to  Montreal,  and  Radisson  was  instructed  to 
follow  them  upon  the  arrival  of  the  successors  of  the 
three. 

The  Moon  of  Flowers  was  come.  My  sister 
Madame  Cadillac  with  her  young  son  Jacques  and 
the  little  infant  Th6rese,  born  in  the  Moon  of  Snows, 
was  to  go  to  Quebec  upon  a  visit  to  her  older 
daughters  at  the  Ursulines.  The  Chatelaine  of 
Chateauguay  was,  of  course,  to  accompany  her.  But 
ere  they  left  for  the  St.  Lawrence,  Miladi  Barbe,  per- 
chance for  old  time's  sake,  went  a-maying  with  me 
upon  the  prairie  of  Le  Detroit. 

Never  were  the  waters  of  the  strait  of  so  fair  a 
17 


258     A   DAUGHTER   OF   NEW   FRANCE 

blue  as  upon  that  morning.  From  the  woods  came 
the  fragrance  of  the  wild  honeysuckle,  the  arbutus, 
and  fleurs-de-lis ;  the  green  banks  of  the  river  were 
dotted  with  violets  and  boutons  d'or  (buttercups) ; 
the  skies  were  serene,  and  here  and  there  across  their 
azure  meadows  strayed  fleecy  white  clouds,  like 
flocks  of  sheep  driven  by  the  gentle  shepherdess  the 
South  Wind,  with  a  sunbeam  for  her  crook. 

The  prairie  was  gay  with  the  songs  of  the  meadow- 
lark  and  the  robin,  the  brown  thrush  and  the  bob- 
olink. The  wild  pigeons  of  the  woods  were  so 
numerous  that  any  evening  after  sunset  I  could  have 
knocked  hundreds  of  them  off  the  low  branches  of 
the  trees  with  the  back  of  my  blade ;  the  wild  geese 
returning  from  the  south  flew  so  low  over  the  settle- 
ment that  their  notes  could  be  distinctly  heard. 
The  deer  too  ventured  from  their  haunts  in  the 
depths  of  the  forest,  to  gaze  at  us  in  gentle  wonder. 

Ah,  that  day  of  days,  when  I  sought  to  beguile  the 
time  for  Miladi  by  tales  of  Indian  romance  I  had 
learned  at  Michilimackinac ! 

Barbe  was  in  a  gay  and  captivating  mood.  Never- 
theless, perchance  because  of  Ishkodah,  she  lent  but 
an  inattentive  ear  to  my  description  of  the  beauty  of 
dusky  maidens,  and  was  bent  upon  bantering  me 
anent  my  old  fancy  for  her  friend  Madeleine  de 
Vercheres,  who  was  still  unwed. 

This  I  relished  not,  and,  abandoning  these  jesting 
themes,  I  fell  into  an  earnest  tone.  But,  sacre !  at 
this  moment,  who  should  cross  our  path  but  Dugue? 
In  his  hand  he  swung  a  spray  of  budding  eglantine 
which  he  must  needs  present  to  the  young  Chatelaine 
ofChateauguay  with  many  compliments,  the  which  she, 
capricious  beauty,  made  no  attempt  to  cut  short. 

The  sun-dial  records   only  sunlit   hours.      Miladi 


OUR   PRETTY   COMMISSIONERS      259 

Barbe  and  Madame  Cadillac  went  up  to  Quebec. 
From  the  hand  of  fate  the  sorceress  of  the  Chateau 
St.  Louis  had  read  darker  days  for  our  Sieur,  and 
these  were  fast  approaching. 

By  the  first  summer  convoy  from  Montreal  came 
the  company's  three  new  commissioners.  To  my 
surprise,  Monsieur  de  Radisson  was  not  at  the  land- 
ing-place of  the  canoes  to  greet  these  officials,  but, 
at  the  request  of  De  la  Mothe,  I  went  thither  to 
extend  to  them  the  civilities  of  the  Commandant. 

As  their  chief  stepped  ashore,  so  ludicrous  was 
his  appearance,  I  with  difficulty  preserved  my  grav- 
ity, being  near  to  laughing  in  his  face.  He  was  a 
slight,  effeminate-looking  man,  attired  in  the  height 
of  the  fashion  as  they  knew  it  in  New  France;  his 
eyebrows  were  of  a  reddish  color,  and  I  surmised 
that  beneath  his  fine  peruque  was  a  plentiful  shock  of 
tawny  hair.  He  had  not  spoken  many  words,  how- 
ever, ere  I  judged  that  under  his  drawling  tone 
there  lurked  a  shrewdness  like  to  let  no  chance 
escape  which  might  be  turned  to  his  own  advantage, 
and  his  sharp  ferret  eyes  lost  nothing  of  what  took 
place  around  him.  These  last  observations  I  made  a 
little  later. 

As  he  came  up  the  beach,  I  met  him  with  a 
courteous  salutation. 

"Monsieur  le  Noyer?"  I  said;  and  for  my  life  I 
could  not  help  that  into  my  voice  crept  a  note  of 
interrogation,  so  amusing  was  his  self-satisfaction 
and  conceit,  as  though  the  whole  world  must  at  a 
glance  know  him  to  be  some  great  personage. 

"  Yes,  of  course  I  am  Monsieur  le  Noyer,"  he  re- 
plied. "  But,"  he  stopped  short,  looked  me  over  from 
head  to  feet,  and  then  added  insolently,  —  "  But  who, 
may  I  ask,  are  you,  monsieur?" 


260     A   DAUGHTER   OF   NEW   FRANCE 

"  I  am  a  gentleman,  deputed  by  Monsieur  de 
Cadillac  to  receive  a  gentleman  who  was  expected 
by  this  convoy.  If  no  gentleman  has  arrived,  I  am 
released  from  my  commission,"  I  answered  with 
haughtiness. 

"  Phouff !  How  hot-headed  are  you  officers  here  ! 
Believe  me,  in  Montreal  such  testiness  is  no  longer 
the  mode,"  he  returned  in  a  deprecating  manner. 
"  Eh  bien,  I  am  Monsieur  le  Noyer,  the  chief  commis- 
sioner for  Le  Detroit ;  and  since  I  bring  letters  to 
your  Commandant,  Monsieur  de  la  Mothe,  I  trust  I 
may  have  the  pleasure  of  meeting  him  as  soon  as  may 
be." 

"  The  Sieur  Cadillac  has  requested  me  to  invite 
you  to  breakfast,"  I  replied  with  more  amenity. 
"  Permit  me  to  conduct  you  to  the  new  manor,  some 
rooms  of  which  are  ready  for  occupancy." 

The  little  man  concluded  to  unbend  a  degree  of 
his  dignity.  Doubtless  in  his  self-complacency,  he 
had  expected  my  brother  to  be  on  the  strand  to 
welcome  .him ;  but  the  hospitable  invitation  of  our 
Sieur  restored  his  good  humor  for  the  time. 

Monsieur  de  Cadillac  received  him  with  much 
courtesy  in  the  salon  of  the  manor,  where  upon  a 
table  laid  with  snowy  damask  and  such  silver  plate 
as  had  been  saved  from  the  fire  were  set  forth  the 
best  of  meats,  and  bread,  and  wine  that  the  post 
afforded. 

Monsieur  le  Noyer  presented  his  letters,  and  then 
De  la  Mothe,  after  an  interchange  of  compliments 
with  the  stranger,  said,  glancing  at  the  bulky  pro- 
portions of  the  packet  he  still  held  in  his  hand,  — 

"  I  ask  your  pardon,  Monsieur  le  Noyer;  I  am  a 
prompt  man  by  nature  and  by  habit.  In  this  packet 
no  doubt  are  instructions  that  require  immediate 


OUR   PRETTY   COMMISSIONERS      261 

consideration.  You  will  hold  me  excused  if  I  with- 
draw to  read  these  documents.  Monsieur  Guyon  will 
ably  fill  the  r61e  of  dispenser  of  the  best  hospitality 
my  poor  house  affords.  Au  revoir.  Were  it  not  that 
I  must  give  my  attention  to  the  letters,  I  should  ask 
no  greater  pleasure  than  to  spend  the  remainder  of 
the  day  in  listening  to  your  news  of  the  doings  in 
Montreal,  and  making  inquiry  for  my  friends  in  that 
good  town  of  the  King." 

Therewith  he  retired  to  examine  the  budget. 

Whether  Le  Noyer  had  assumed  the  breakfast  to 
be  a  formal  feast  prepared  in  his  honor,  to  which  all 
the  gentlemen  of  the  post  would  be  invited,  I  do  not 
know.  At  all  events,  though  I  strove  to  my  utmost 
to  play  well  the  part  of  entertainer  which  was  assigned 
me,  the  guest  grew  sullen  and  silent.  Yet  his  ill- 
humor  in  no  way  interfered  with  his  relish  of  the 
viands,  or  so  it  seemed. 

I  ate  more  sparingly,  but  was  ready  to  lengthen 
out  the  repast,  esteeming  it  easier  to  cater  to  the 
palate  of  the  gourmet  than  to  divert  him  with  con- 
versation. 

Within  the  hour  our  Sieur  returned.  We  were 
just  risen  from  the  table,  and  Monsieur  le  Noyer  had 
gone  to  a  window  and  was  looking  out  upon  the 
river,  that  lay,  a  fair  expanse  of  blue  and  silver,  shin- 
ing in  the  sunlight  of  this  perfect  day  in  June. 

"  Monsieur  le  Commissionaire,"  began  Cadillac,  in 
his  courtliest  tone,  "  I  dare  say  you  are  eager  to  be 
about  the  affairs  of  the  company.  I  will  not  detain 
you  from  them,  therefore.  Be  assured  you  shall 
have  all  the  protection  you  may  need  from  me  as 
Commandant  of  this  post,  in  the  discharge  of  your 
duties.  I  would  advise  you  to  execute  as  quietly  as 
possible  any  orders  wherewith  you  may  be  charged. 


262     A   DAUGHTER   OF   NEW   FRANCE 

Monsieur  Guyon  will  give  you  whatever  information 
you  may  require  regarding  our  treatment  of  the 
savages." 

"Thanks,  Monsieur  le  Commandant,"  returned  his 
guest,  with  ill-concealed  impatience.  "  I  have  need 
to  ask  no  information,  save  to  be  shown  the  way  to 
the  house  of  the  retiring  commissioner.  I  marvel 
he  has  not  come  to  greet  me." 

"Of  Monsieur  Radisson's  acts  I  can  make  no  ex- 
planation, not  being  on  terms  of  amity  with  him.  I 
am  sure,  however,  that  Monsieur  Guyon  will  be 
happy  to  conduct  you  to  his  house." 

My  brother  glanced  at  me,  a  flash  of  amusement 
in  his  eye,  for  he  knew  I  would  be  gladly  rid  of  the 
duty  of  host. 

"  Monsieur,"  I  said,  turning  to  his  guest  with  a 
grave  bow,  "  I  shall  be  pleased  to  do  you  a 
service." 

Accordingly  we  went  out  together,  and  down  the 
street  of  Ste.  Anne,  toward  the  dwelling  of  Monsieur 
de  Radisson. 

"  I  presume  my  predecessor  in  office  is  ready  to 
deliver  over  to  me  at  once  the  keys  of  the  company's 
storehouse,"  remarked  the  little  commissioner  pom- 
pously, as  we  proceeded ;  despite  his  announcement 
that  he  wanted  to  be  told  nothing,  here  he  was  imme- 
diately questioning  me. 

From  his  manner  one  would  have  thought  he  had 
been  appointed  Commandant  of  Le  Detroit,  at  least, 
and  I  laughed  in  my  sleeve  as  I  answered,  — 

"No  doubt  Monsieur  Radisson  is  prepared  to  give 
into  your  hands  whatever  insignia  of  office  he  may 
possess.  It  may  be  well  for  you  to  understand  be- 
fore meeting  him  that  the  storehouses  have  keys 
indeed,  yet  they  are  never  locked,  excepting  only 


OUR   PRETTY   COMMISSIONERS      263 

the  cellars,  where  are  stored  the  casks  of  brandy. 
The  Indians  have  never  seen  seals  placed  upon 
coffers  nor  caskets,  nor  even  upon  the  doors  of  the 
buildings;  neither  has  a  guard  been  placed  there. 
They  would  consider  such  locks  or  seals  an  infringe- 
ment upon  the  liberty  which  is  so  precious  among 
these  nations." 

"What,  what,  what!"  exclaimed  the  new  com- 
missioner. "  The  company's  goods  are  not  kept 
under  lock?  This  is  laxity,  indeed!  Of  a  truth,  we 
must  change  matters." 

"  If  you  make  the  attempt  to  do  so,  you  will  incur 
the  enmity  of  the  savages,"  I  curtly  responded. 
"  Their  likes  and  dislikes  turn  as  a  pair  of  scales,  ac- 
cording as  they  have  free  range  or  are  watched  in 
their  visits  to  even  our  dwellings.  They  come  and 
go  as  they  please,  and,  although  persistent  beggars 
of  gifts  from  their  white  brothers,  they  have  never 
stolen  from  our  stores ;  they  hold  the  goods  of  an- 
other sacred." 

"  Ah,  ha,  ha !  trust  an  Indian,  never  unless  he  be 
a  dead  one,"  laughed  Le  Noyer,  boisterously.  "  No, 
no,  rest  assured  I  shall  lock  up  the  storehouses. 
And  these  lazy  red  dogs,  what  need  is  there  to 
curry  favor  with  them  by  presents?  Let  them  fish 
and  hunt,  and  buy  what  they  require  of  the  com- 
pany at  a  good  profit  to  the  directors.  I  shall  not 
waste  the  company's  goods  in  presents." 

"'Give  to  the  birds  crumbs,  God  gives  you 
loaves,"  I  rejoined  absently. 

"A  Recollet  saying,  I  am  willing  to  wager,  a 
maxim  of  the  Saint  of  Assisi,"  broke  out  Le  Noyer, 
clapping  me  on  the  shoulder,  and  shouting  hilari- 
ously, as  though  he  found  in  my  words  much  wit, 
"  I  have  heard,  Monsieur  Guyon,  that  you  were  once 


264     A   DAUGHTER    OF   NEW    FRANCE 

minded  to  join  the  good  Fathers,  and  they  would 
not  have  you.  I  '11  venture  you  are  clerk  to  the 
cure  here,  as  well  as  to  the  Commandant  Howbeit, 
let  me  tell  you,  in  future  any  birds  that  come  thus 
for  grain  to  the  company's  granary  are  like  to  be 
caught  in  a  snare." 

"  Save  only  the  birds  of  prey  that  feather  their 
nests  therein,"  I  made  answer  scornfully.  "  Here  we 
are  at  the  house  of  Monsieur  Radisson,  and  now, 
monsieur,  I  have  the  honor  to  wish  you  good- 
day." 

He  laughed  again,  and  I  stalked  away,  angered  at 
myself  for  having  come  so  near  to  quarrelling  with 
him,  since  this  would  be  to  act  contrary  to  the  in- 
terests of  our  Sieur.  Yet  his  consequential  air  was 
most  irritating,  and  his  rude  jest  was  more  than  I 
could  tamely  hear. 

Monsieur  le  Noyer  lost  no  time  ere  he  put  into 
effect  the  policy  he  was  resolved  to  adopt  in  trading 
with  the  savages.  He  and  his  colleagues  promptly 
told  the  Indians  through  an  interpreter  that  they 
had  come  to  send  away  the  furs,  not  to  bring  any 
more  merchandise.  Moreover,  they  locked  the  store- 
houses, and  set  an  exorbitant  price  upon  the  goods 
of  the  company. 

The  result  was  that  within  three  days  after  their 
arrival  a  delegation  of  savages  came  to  the  fort  and 
demanded  the  resignation  of  the  new  commissioner 
by  the  presentation  of  a  necklace. 

La  Mothe,  hoping  to  pacify  them,  begged  of  him 
to  pay  no  heed  to  their  request;  but  Le  Noyer  in  a 
rage  accepted  the  token. 

"  Of  a  truth,  I  should  die  of  ennui  in  this  wilder- 
ness," he  averred  passionately ;  "  with  joy  will  I  return 
to  Montreal." 


OUR   PRETTY   COMMISSIONERS      265 

Giving  over  his  papers  to  his  colleagues,  he  was 
hot  to  depart  as  speedily  as  might  be. 

A  day  or  two  later  our  Sieur  and  I  came  upon  the 
ex-commissioner  as  he  stood  on  the  strand  directing 
the  lading  of  a  canoe  for  the  voyage. 

"  How  now,  monsieur?  "  inquired  the  Commandant, 
justly  indignant  that  these  preparations  were  begun 
without  his  knowledge;  "what  is  the  meaning  of 
this?" 

"  It  means,"  responded  Le  Noyer,  surlily,  "  that  I 
shall  remain  no  longer  in  this  place,  where  I  have 
been  treated  with  scant  courtesy." 

"  When  courtesy  is  all  on  one  side,  it  cannot  last 
long,"  answered  La  Mothe;  "trouble  not  yourself 
over-much  with  plans  for  an  early  departure,  mon- 
sieur, since  you  are  not  to  go  at  present." 

Le  Noyer  grew  red  in  the  face  and  swelled  with 
choler,  as  does  the  wild  turkey  when  enraged. 

"  Monsieur  de  Cadillac,"  he  cried,  catching  at  his 
rapier,  "  I  would  remind  you  I  am  chief  commis- 
sioner of  the  Company  of  New  France  at  this  post." 

My  brother  laughed  in  his  sarcastic  fashion. 

"  Not  so  fast,  and  have  a  care,  for  if  you  should 
draw  your  sword  you  would  complete  your  own  un- 
doing, Monsieur  le  Noyer,"  he  said.  "  You  were 
chief  commissioner,  but  I  will  recall  to  your  memory 
that  you  have  resigned  your  authority." 

"  But — but  —  "  stammered  the  other. 

"  Nevertheless,"  continued  Cadillac,  now  cool  and 
inflexible,  "  were  you  still  in  possession  of  the  priv- 
ileges deputed  to  you  when  you  came  hither,  were 
you  the  embodiment  of  the  fulsome  powers  of  the 
company  itself,  they  would  avail  you  nothing  in  this 
matter.  You  are  not  to  depart  until  the  demand  of 
the  Indians  for  your  resignation  has  been  submitted 


266     A   DAUGHTER   OF   NEW   FRANCE 

to  the  company  and  I  have  received  instructions 
from  them  as  to  whether  it  is  to  be  accepted." 

"  And  who  or  what  shall  detain  me  since  I  am  re- 
solved to  go?"  queried  Le  Noyer,  with  haughtiness. 

"  You  are  not  to  set  out  because  I  will  not  permit 
it,  monsieur." 

"You,  Monsieur  de  Cadillac,"  repeated  the  ex- 
commissioner.  "  I  owe  you  no  obedience." 

"  Pardon,  monsieur,"  answered  our  Sieur,  with 
ironical  politeness,  "  either  you  have  been  ill-in- 
structed or  you  are  wilfully  insubordinate.  Every 
one  at  Fort  Pontchartrain  owes  obedience  to  the 
Commandant,  and  it  is  a  standing  order  that  no  one 
shall  leave  the  post  without  my  permission.  See  that 
you  do  not  disobey  it.  Any  further  insubordination 
on  your  part  will  be  strenuously  dealt  with.  My  pow- 
ers are  ample;  they  give  me  authority  to  punish, 
according  to  circumstance,  by  reprimand,  arrest,  im- 
prisonment, suspension,  or,  in  case  of  a  clear  and 
positive  disobedience  of  orders,  to  run  my  sword 
through  the  body  of  the  offender.  Therefore  be 
warned." 

With  these  words  Cadillac  passed  on  down  the 
street  of  St.  Louis,  and  I  followed,  leaving  the  dis- 
comfited commissioner  in  an  unavailing  fury. 

Thereafter  he  retired  in  high  dudgeon  to  his  lodg- 
ings, and  for  the  nonce  our  Sieur  saw  no  more  of 
him. 


CHAPTER  TWENTIETH 

THE  LODESTONE   OF  LOVE 

ERE  the  end  of  the  week  a  tragic  incident  brought 
consternation  to  our  little  town  of  Le  Detroit, 
and  caused  the  hearts  of  the  bravest  among  our 
small  garrison  to  quail  at  the  thought  that  the  like 
might  be  the  fate  of  any  one  of  them. 

One  afternoon,  as  I  passed  through  the  gate,  I  was 
met  by  Sergeant  Jean  Joly.  His  usually  jovial  coun- 
tenance wore  a  troubled  air,  and  his  manner  was 
grave  and  testy,  as  though  he  had  a  load  on  his 
mind. 

"What  has  gone  wrong,  Jolicoeur?"  I  asked  in 
surprise,  so  seldom  was  his  good  humor  ruffled. 

"  In  faith,  Monsieur  Guyon,  I  have  cause  enough 
for  despondency,"  he  replied,  "  and,  since  two  heads 
are  better  than  one,  perhaps  you  will  give  me  your 
counsel.  On  the  one  hand,  I  am  loath  to  bring  pun- 
ishment upon  the  poor  lad ;  on  the  other,  I  can  no 
longer  neglect  to  report  the  matter." 

"  You  speak  in  enigmas,"  I  protested. 

41  Here  it  is,  then,"  he  went  on.  "  The  soldier  La 
Girofle  disappeared  this  morning.  You  know,  hav- 
ing been  unsuccessful  in  his  efforts  to  win  for  a  wife 
the  pretty  waiting-maid  of  Madame  Cadillac,  he  is 
minded  to  wed  the  Indian  maiden  Mekaia,  the  Star- 
flower.  Father  Constantin  promised  to  marry  them 
next  Sunday.  Well,  when  to-day  the  reckless  fellow 
was  missing,  I  bethought  me  he  had  slipped  away 


268     A    DAUGHTER    OF    NEW    FRANCE 

to  see  his  sweetheart,  and  'twould  be  only  a  matter  of 
some  hours  in  the  guard-house.  He  has  not  returned, 
and  the  girl  brought  berries  into  the  settlement  to 
sell,  this  afternoon.  She  had  hoped  to  meet  the 
soldier,  and  had  no  knowledge  of  his  whereabouts. 
Others  have  deserted,  but  he  would  scarce  be  like  to 
run  away." 

"  Many  a  man  has  felt  like  running  away  on  the 
eve  of  his  marriage,  Jolicoeur,"  I  hazarded. 

The  bluff  sergeant  laughed  at  the  jest,  but  anon 
shook  his  head  sadly. 

"  I  fear  me  the  lad  has  been  foully  dealt  with,"  he 
muttered. 

"  You  have  no  choice  but  to  make  known  his 
disappearance,  that  search  may  be  made,"  I  said  with 
decision.  "  His  failure  to  return  may  mean  that  the 
savages  are  planning  another  attack  upon  the  fort." 

"  So  I  think,  and  I  will  delay  no  longer,"  answered 
Jolicceur. 

The  absence  of  La  Girofle  was  accordingly  reported 
forthwith. 

"  If  the  churl  turns  up  safe,  as  God  grant  he  may, 
I  will  have  him  in  irons  for  a  month,"  declared  La 
Mothe.  "  Jean  Joly,  take  two  men  and  go  in  search 
of  him." 

By  dusk  the  party  returned,  and  appeared  before 
the  Commandant,  who  had  called  together  his  offi- 
cers, anticipating  ill  tidings. 

"Well,"  demanded  Monsieur  de  Cadillac,  as  Joli- 
cceur and  his  men  saluted. 

"  Mon  Commandant,"  began  the  sergeant,  his 
honest  face  working  with  emotion,  "  we  have  found 
proof  that  the  soldier  La  Girofle  was  tortured  and 
burned  to  death  by  the  savages.  About  a  league 
from  here  through  the  forest,  we  came  upon  a 


THE   LODESTONE   OF   LOVE         269 

cleared  space  where  a  band  of  red  men  had  evi- 
dently but  a  few  hours  before  held  one  of  their 
terrible  ceremonies.  On  the  edge  of  the  circle  we 
found  this."  Thereupon  he  drew  from  the  breast  of 
his  coat  a  fragment  of  a  soldier's  uniform,  and  laid  it 
on  the  table  before  the  Commandant.  "  In  the  centre 
of  the  ring  was  a  stake ;  near  it  were  a  few  charred 
bones  and  a  heap  of  ashes  among  which,  here  and 
there,  a  spark  still  glowed.  That  was  all." 

Honest  Jolicoeur,  rough  and  stern  as  he  was  at 
times,  now  drew  a  hand  across  his  eyes.  His  voice 
had  grown  husky,  and  towards  the  last  of  his  recital 
the  words  had  come  brokenly  from  his  lips. 

"  Our  Indian  guides  told  us  this  was  the  act  of 
strangers,  Outawas  from  the  North  who  have  been 
lurking  in  the  neighborhood  of  late,"  he  added  after 
a  pause. 

For  me,  I  must  acknowledge  that  my  blood  ran  cold, 
but  it  was  with  horror,  not  fear.  A  wild  eagerness  to 
overtake  these  redskins  who  had  done  this  terrible 
deed  took  possession  of  me ;  a  fierce  anxiety  to  hew 
them  down  with  as  little  mercy  as  they  had  shown  to 
our  poor  La  Girofle" ;  to  torture  and  maim  and  slaughter 
them,  as  they  had  tortured  and  maimed  and  slaugh- 
tered ;  to  hurl  them  into  the  depths  of  the  Inferno ! 

I  glanced  around,  and  saw  similar  emotion  depicted 
upon  the  countenances  of  the  officers  about  me,  while 
the  hand  of  every  one  grasped  the  hilt  of  his  sword. 

The  frown  upon  the  brow  of  our  Sieur  was  ominous 
as  a  thunder-cloud. 

"  These  red  demons  have  killed  a  soldier  of  the 
King,"  he  exclaimed;  "verily,  the  crime  shall  be  well 
avenged." 

Scarce  had  he  ceased  to  speak  when  into  the 
room  strode  the  Miami  chief,  Wingeezee,  the  Eagle, 


27o     A   DAUGHTER   OF   NEW   FRANCE 

a  commanding  figure,  wearing  with  the  air  of  a 
prince  his  blanket  of  saffron  color,  in  his  hair 
three  eagle's  feathers,  and  upon  his  feet  moccasins 
bright  with  porcupine  quills. 

"  My  Father,"  he  said,  addressing  the  Commandant, 
for  he  knew  enough  of  our  language  and  we  of  the 
Miami  tongue  to  make  the  sense  of  his  words  intelli- 
gible, with  the  help  now  and  then  of  the  interpreter  De 
Lorme,  —  "My  Father,  the  Indians  of  Le  Detroit 
mourn  for  their  white  brother,  and  would  join  in  aveng- 
ing his  fate.  Let  my  Father  but  lift  his  hand  as  a  sign 
that  it  is  his  wish,  and  we  will  send  into  the  forest 
a  hundred  braves,  to  pursue  and  bring  to  vengeance 
the  enemies  who  have  put  to  death  the  soldier  of  my 
Father,  the  soldier  of  the  Greatest  of  all  Onontios, 
who  lives  beyond  the  Wide  Waters." 

When  the  chief  had  concluded,  Cadillac  rose  to  his 
feet. 

"Wingeezee,"  he  began  with  formality,  "I  thank 
you ;  your  people  do  well  to  offer  me  aid  at  this 
time.  My  vengeance  upon  those  who  have  killed 
this  soldier  must  indeed  be  swift.  The  wrath  of 
Onontio  at  Quebec,  of  the  Great  Onontio  beyond 
the  Mighty  Waters,  will  be  terrible  when  they  hear 
of  this  act  of  our  enemies.  I  accept  your  offer, 
knowing  that  you  and  the  other  warriors  make  it 
with  a  good  heart.  When  daylight  comes  again,  go 
therefore  with  your  braves;  pursue  these  treacherous 
Outawas,  and  wipe  them  out  of  existence." 

"It  shall  be  done,"  replied  the  Eagle.  "But,  my 
Father,  give  us  three  or  four  Frenchmen  to  go  with 
us,  that  these  northern  Outawas  may  know  we  are 
come  to  avenge  the  death  of  the  soldier,  not  to  make 
war  for  ourselves." 

The  demand  was  an  unwelcome  one.     Eager  to  go 


THE   LODESTONE   OF   LOVE        271 

as  was  every  officer  and  soldier  of  the  fort,  with  our 
ill-paid  garrison  reduced  by  desertion  and  expiration 
of  their  term  of  service  to  the  paltry  number  of  four- 
teen, not  a  man  could  be  spared. 

I  started  forward. 

"  Let  me  go,"  I  pleaded. 

Mon  chevalier  waved  me  back. 

"  No,"  he  said  curtly. 

He  had,  however,  decided  what  to  do.  The  voy- 
ageurs  and  coureurs  de  bois  who  as  servants  of  the 
company  enjoyed  the  protection  of  the  fort,  had 
been  put  through  military  drill ;  of  their  service  he 
would  now  avail. 

Therefore,  concealing  his  momentary  reluctance 
from  the  Indian,  he  answered, — 

"  Wingeezee,  you  ask  but  what  is  just.  When 
daylight  comes  again,  and  your  braves  are  ready  to 
set  out,  I  will  send  with  you  eight  good  Frenchmen." 

Forthwith  the  chief  stalked  away,  to  take  back  the 
message  to  the  warriors  who  awaited  him.  When  he 
was  gone,  De  la  Mothe  turned  to  the  captain. 

"  Monsieur  de  Tonty,"  he  directed,  "  assemble  the 
temporary  servants  of  the  company  and  call  for 
volunteers;  of  these  volunteers  select  eight  good 
men  and  give  them  food  and  ammunition  from  the 
storehouse  of  the  company,  as  is  customary  whenever 
their  services  are  required  in  the  cause  of  the  King. 
The  expedition  must  start  at  dawn." 

An  hour  or  two  later,  while  our  Sieur  was  dictat- 
ing to  me  an  account  of  the  sad  occurrence  to  be  sent 
to  Quebec,  and  I  was  taking  it  down  as  fast  as  might 
be,  Monsieur  de  Tonty  returned. 

"  Monsieur  le  Commandant,"  he  began,  "  I  have  to 
report  that  according  to  your  orders,  I  called  for  vol- 
unteers from  among  the  servants  of  the  company. 


272     A   DAUGHTER   OF   NEW   FRANCE 

Some  twenty  men  responded,  and  of  these  I  selected 
eight." 

Cadillac  nodded  his  approval. 

"  And  they  hold  themselves  in  readiness  to  start 
at  daylight,"  he  said. 

"  They  are  willing  to  set  out,  Monsieur  le  Com- 
mandant, but  there  is  a  difficulty." 

La  Mothe  shot  a  keen  glance  at  his  captain. 

"  Monsieur  le  Noyer  maintains  that  the  people  of 
the  company  cannot  be  drafted,  even  for  the  ser- 
vice of  the  King,  without  his  permission,"  continued 
De  Tonty,  uneasily.  "  He  forbids  them  to  go  a  step 
from  the  fort  without  his  leave,  and  says  he  is  not 
decided  that  he  will  grant  it." 

I  would  have  marvelled  at  my  brother's  coolness 
under  such  irritation,  had  I  not  often  observed  before 
that  in  critical  situations  his  anger  was  not  wont  to 
break  forth  in  a  flame,  as  at  other  times,  but  was 
rather  like  the  smouldering  fire  of  a  furnace. 

"  And  what  is  your  opinion  of  this  position  taken 
by  Monsieur  le  Noyer?  "  he  inquired. 

"I  —  I  —  do  not  see  how  the  men  can  be  ordered 
out  against  the  will  of  the  commissioners,"  hesitated 
De  Tonty,  half-heartedly. 

"  I  will  show  you  how  it  is  to  be  done,  then,  mon- 
sieur," returned  Cadillac,  with  a  sneer.  "  Have  the 
men  prepared  to  go,  and  tell  Le  Noyer  I  require  his 
presence." 

To  this  summons  the  ex-commissioner  responded 
with  an  exceeding  ill-grace,  sauntering  in  from  his 
dinner,  flushed  with  wine  and  in  disordered  dress. 

"Monsieur  le  Noyer,"  said  the  Commandant,  "do 
you  assert  that  I  am  not  empowered  to  draft  the  ser- 
vants of  the  company  for  the  service  of  the  King 
without  your  permission?  " 


THE    LODESTONE   OF   LOVE         273 

"  Of  a  surety;  I  declare  that  you  have  no  such 
power,"  averred  the  arrogant  knave,  looking  toward 
De  Tonty. 

The  latter  avoided  his  eye,  but  the  manifest  sym- 
pathy between  them  did  not  escape  our  Sieur. 

"  Oh,  ho,  monsieur,  had  you  a  hundred  allies  here, 
your  temerity  should  not  go  unrebuked,"  he  said  sar- 
castically. "  I  will  teach  you  to  mend  your  conduct, 
my  little  commissioner  !  You  have  neglected  your  own 
duty  to  act  the  seditious,  and  have  attempted  to 
alienate  others  from  their  obedience.  For  this  in- 
solence and  insubordination  you  will  consider  your- 
self under  arrest  and  will  pass  the  next  three  hours 
in  the  sergeant's  room.  You  may  retire ;  Jean  Joly, 
look  to  the  execution  of  the  order." 

At  daybreak  the  expedition  set  out;  the  wander- 
ing Outawas  were  overtaken,  and  the  fate  of  poor  La 
Girofl6  was  avenged  so  promptly  that  the  anticipated 
attack  upon  the  fort  was  averted. 

The  sullen  Le  Noyer,  however,  instead  of  thanking 
Heaven  that  by  the  determined  course  of  our  Sieur 
we  were  saved  from  an  imminent  danger,  and  per- 
haps thus  his  own  precious  life  had  been  spared, 
must  needs  consider  himself  more  deeply  wronged. 

I  have  before  set  down  that  sometimes,  when  vexed 
with  care,  it  was  the  wont  of  La  Mothe  to  walk  by 
the  river,  when  all  but  the  watches  of  the  fort  were 
asleep,  save  only  myself  also,  who  frequently  bore 
him  company.  One  night,  when  we  thus  paced  the 
bank  at  the  edge  of  the  King's  Garden,  there  was 
wafted  to  us  on  the  breeze,  from  the  sands  below,  the 
murmur  of  voices,  although  the  speakers  seemed  to 
avoid  a  loud  tone. 

"What  is  this?"  exclaimed  my  brother,  stopping 
short. 

18 


274     A   DAUGHTER   OF   NEW  FRANCE 

"Two  or  more  settlers,  who  having  gone  a-fishing 
with  a  wine-jug,  find  themselves  belated  outside  the 
palisade,"  I  rejoined. 

"  No,  those  are  not  the  accents  of  wine-bibbers," 
answered  Cadillac ;  "  there  is  plotting  abroad." 

Through  the  darkness  we  followed  the  sounds,  and 
thus  came  suddenly  upon  some  six  or  more  of  the 
company's  voyageurs,  who  were  manifestly  making 
preparations  to  leave  the  fort. 

The  commissioner's  canoe  was  already  in  the  water 
and  well  stocked  with  provisions. 

"  What,  ho,  varlets  !  "  cried  Cadillac,  lustily.  "  Do 
you  want  to  be  shot  as  rebels,  or  hanged  as  breakers 
of  the  law;  to  have  your  heads  placed  upon  pikes  at 
the  gates  of  the  palisade?  " 

Emerging  as  he  did  out  of  the  blackness  of  the 
night,  our  Sieur  must,  indeed,  have  seemed  to  the 
men  an  apparition  sent  to  strike  them  down  in  their 
wrongdoing,  and  they  were  scarce  less  appalled,  I 
thought,  than  had  it  been  so,  when  they  found 
themselves  confronted  with  the  Commandant  in  the 
flesh. 

"  Pardon,  monseigneur !  "  implored  the  captain  of 
the  crew,  falling  upon  his  knees  in  abject  terror,  his 
example  being  quickly  followed  by  his  mates. 
"  Grace  and  pardon !  We  were  only  carrying  out  the 
order  of  our  masters  the  commissioners.  Grace  and 
pardon  !  We  are  between  two  fires ;  as  servants  of  the 
company,  we  are  sworn  to  obey  its  officers  under 
penalty  of  punishment  by  the  civil  law  of  Montreal. 
We  mean  no  disrespect  to  the  authority  of  Monsieur 
le  Commandant;  but  what  are  we  to  do?  " 

"  The  poor  knaves  are  in  truth  hard  pressed,"  I 
muttered  aside  to  La  Mothe ;  "  I  pray  you  be 
merciful." 


THE   LODESTONE   OF   LOVE         275 

"  If  you  do  not  wish  to  be  instantly  flogged,"  said 
Cadillac,  keeping  the  man  on  his  knees,  "  make  a 
clean  breast  of  this  matter  without  delay.  By  whose 
order  has  this  boat  been  provisioned  and  manned?  " 

"  By  the  command  of  Monsieur  le  Noyer  and  the 
other  commissioners,  gracious  Sieur,"  replied  the  fel- 
low, glibly  enough. 

"  He  was  to  meet  us  here,  and  embark  with  us  by 
two  of  the  clock,"  interposed  another  as  eager  for 
clemency. 

The  villains  could  have  overpowered  and  murdered 
us ;  yet,  despite  the  fact  that  many  nearer  to  Cadil- 
lac's own  rank  in  life  conspired  against  him,  such  was 
the  awe  he  inspired  that  never  did  his  own  men  or 
others,  such  as  these,  raise  a  hand  to  injure  him. 

Putting  a  silver  whistle  to  his  lips,  he  now  sum- 
moned the  guards,  and  gave  the  men  into  their 
custody. 

Before  the  prisoners  were  marched  away,  however, 
he  said  to  them,  — 

"  My  men,  your  base  offence  merits  capital  pun- 
ishment; but  since  you  were  not  altogether  masters 
of  your  own  actions,  I  commute  the  penalty  to  fine 
and  imprisonment.  See  that  you  do  not  offend 
again." 

As  for  Monsieur  le  Noyer,  when  he  came  down  to 
embark  at  two  of  the  clock,  he  walked  into  the  arms 
of  Jolicoeur,  and  suffered  another  imprisonment, 
together  with  his  fellow  commissioners,  they  having 
connived  at  his  insubordination. 

A  few  weeks  later,  Cadillac  received  word  from 
the  company  to  send  Le  Noyer  to  Montreal,  which  he 
did  forthwith.  Le  Detroit  was  as  well  rid  of  the  little 
commissioner  as  it  had  been  of  Arnaud  and  Nolan. 

These      three      pretty     scoundrels,     nevertheless, 


276     A    DAUGHTER    OF    NEW    FRANCE 

promptly  set  their  wits  to  work  to  be  revenged  upon 
the  Commandant  for  his  discovery  of  their  villany. 

One  day  De  la  Mothe  sat  at  his  writing-table  in 
the  salon  of  his  new  manor,  scratching  away  with 
his  quill,  wherewith  he  had  such  unusual  facility  as 
a  soldier,  and  I  was  engaged  in  making  copies  of 
the  letters  he  had  already  prepared,  as  was  my  wont. 

Because  of  the  pleasantness  of  the  air,  the  door 
leading  out  upon  the  gallery  was  left  open,  and 
several  times,  as  I  raised  my  eyes,  I  noted  a  long, 
slanting  ray  of  sunlight  that  played  about  his  head 
and  fell  athwart  him  as  though  to  transfix  his  stal- 
wart frame.  Why  was  it  that  the  sharp,  lance-like 
sunbeam  suggested  to  my  mind  an  Indian  tomahawk; 
that,  instead  of  my  brother's  dark  thick  locks  (he  had 
laid  aside  his  peruque),  I  saw  in  a  sickly  fancy  the 
ghastly  adornments  of  a  savage  scalp-belt? 

Impatient  at  myself,  I  rose  to  shut-to  the  door; 
but,  looking  up,  he  said, — 

"  Nay,  nay,  leave  it  ajar.  The  sunlight  is  cheerful 
and  not  at  this  hour  over-warm,  and  the  scent  of  the 
flowers  Gaspard  tends  with  such  care  is  sweet  as  it 
comes  to  us  on  the  breeze.  To  think  that  we  have 
already  nearly  seen  the  last  of  the  Moon  of  the 
Maize !  These  balmy  days  for  us  are  numbered ; 
soon  enough  shall  we  be  forced  to  shut  out  the 
cold  and  the  snow." 

At  his  protest,  I  sat  me  down  again,  and  applied 
myself  anew  to  my  task.  But  ever  the  cruel  sun- 
beam, glancing  about  the  head  and  shoulders  of 
our  Sieur,  distracted  me  from  my  occupation,  and 
though  I  strove  to  banish  the  thought  of  ill  by  see- 
ing in  its  brilliancy  an  augury  of  honors  and  fortune 
to  be  showered  upon  my  brother  thus  in  a  golden 


THE   LODESTONE   OF   LOVE         277 

profusion,  still  the  long,  sharp  ray  of  light  took  on 
to  my  mind  a  form  of  menace. 

For  a  time  we  worked  in  silence.  All  at  once 
darkness  entered  through  the  doorway,  as  if  des- 
tiny swiftly  crossed  the  threshold  and  with  an  eager 
hand  snatched  away  the  gleaming  spirit-weapon  of 
the  savage. 

Cadillac  lifted  his  head  quickly,  and  I  started  to 
my  feet. 

Without,  on  the  gallery,  stood  a  stranger,  whose 
shadow,  thus  projected  into  the  room,  had  inter- 
rupted us. 

The  fellow  who  intruded  upon  us  in  this  fashion 
was  a  swarthy,  keen-eyed  Canadian,  clad  in  a  surtout 
of  blue  cloth  that  reached  below  the  knees,  and  elk- 
skin  trousers  ornamented  with  fringe;  around  his 
waist  was  fastened  a  worsted  sash  of  scarlet  color 
amid  the  folds  of  which  was  thrust  a  broad  hunting- 
knife,  and  crowning  his  shock  of  black  hair  was  the 
jaunty  red  cap  of  the  wood-ranger. 

"Sans  Souci,  my  trusty  coureur  de  bois,"  ex- 
claimed Cadillac,  with  the  rare,  bright  smile  of  wel- 
come that  was  as  cordial  of  Chatreuse  to  the  hearts 
of  those  who  served  him  faithfully,  and  caused  them 
to  forget  his  sometime  haughtiness. 

"  Sans  Souci,  and  returned  so  soon,"  continued  La 
Mothe,  as  his  messenger  came  in  and  strode  to  the 
table.  "  You  must  have  especial  news  wherewith 
you  have  hastened  back  from  Montreal,  giving  your- 
self only  time  at  the  taverns  on  the  way  to  quaff  a 
cup  for  refreshment  and  another  for  good  speed. 
As  for  trading,  my  faith,  your  customers  for  once 
must  have  got  good  bargains,  since  you  tarried  not 
to  haggle.  But  have  a  care,  have  a  care,  or  you 
will  feel  the  company's  bludgeon  about  your  ears." 


278     A   DAUGHTER    OF   NEW   FRANCE 

"  A  man  must  live,  monseigneur,  maugre  the 
company,"  returned  Sans  Souci,  taking  the  good- 
humored  condescension  of  our  Sieur  as  it  was  meant, 
for,  all  the  world  4cnows,  a  coureur  de  bois  ac- 
knowledges no  trading  laws  but  those  he  makes  for 
himself. 

"  What  would  mon  Sieur  say  to  it  if  I  were  to 
swear  that  upon  this  last  trip  I  have  not  traded  to 
the  value  of  a  sou,  and  scarce  have  delayed  for 
refreshment?  " 

De  la  Mothe  shook  a  finger  at  him  in  deprecation. 

"  I  should  say,  I  would  as  soon  expect  you 
to  turn  monk,  Sans  Souci,  and  eschewing  all  the 
follies  of  the  world  bind  yourself  to  sobriety  and 
obedience." 

Sans  Souci  chuckled  with  merriment  at  the  por- 
trayal of  himself  in  so  unlikely  a  garb. 

"  Ha,  ha,  ha!  the  wit  of  mon  Sieur  is  as  keen  as 
the  edge  of  my  knife,"  he  cried,  drawing  the  sleeve 
of  his  blouse  across  his  eyes  to  wipe  away  the  tears 
of  laughter  that  gathered  therein.  "  I  will  wait  till  I 
am  sick  to  do  penance  in  sackcloth  and  ashes.  But 
what  I  have  told  to  mon  Sieur  is  true.  Moreover,  I 
did  not  go  at  all  to  Ville  Marie." 

"  You  did  not  go  to  Ville  Marie,"  repeated  Mon- 
sieur de  Cadillac,  now  grown  grave,  as  he  fixed  upon 
the  wood-ranger  a  look  of  stern  inquiry. 

"  What,  then,  of  the  packet  of  letters  I  gave  into 
your  keeping  to  be  delivered  to  certain  parties 
there?  Also  the  documents  for  the  directors  of  the 
company,  and  the  mail  to  be  forwarded  to  Monsieur 
de  Vaudreuil?" 

"  Monsieur  de  Cadillac  will  be  angered,  yet  I 
intrusted  them  to  another,"  rejoined  the  coureur  de 
bois,  unflinchingly. 


THE   LODESTONE    OF   LOVE         279 

"  Sacre  !  "  ejaculated  La  Mothe,  pushing  back  his 
chair  and  glaring  at  the  ranger.  "  Sans  Souci,  is 
it  in  this  manner  you  repay  my  confidence?  Is  it 
thus  you  execute  the  commission  for  which  I  paid 
you  double?  Are  you,  the  coureurs  de  bois,  become 
so  lawless  that  there  is  not  one  among  them  worthy 
of  trust?" 

"  Monsieur  de  la  Mothe  may  upbraid  if  he  will, 
but  I  ask  that  he  will  first  hear  me,"  protested  Sans 
Souci,  folding  his  arms  and  tossing  his  head  in  an 
aggrieved  fashion. 

"  Eh  bien,  what  have  you  to  say?"  demanded  my 
brother  wearily,  leaning  an  elbow  on  the  table,  and 
resting  a  finger  upon  his  temple,  as  is  a  habit  with 
men  of  a  reflective  turn  of  mind. 

"  I  did  not  go  to  Ville  Marie,"  .proceeded  the 
coureur  de  bois,  meeting  the  steady  scrutiny  to 
which  he  was  subjected,  "  because  at  Fort  Frontenac 
I  learned  something  which  I  felt  should  be  known  to 
the  Commandant  of  Le  Detroit." 

"  Ah  !  "  The  exclamation  broke  from  Cadillac  like 
a  sigh.  "  You  must  have  remained  some  time  at  Fort 
Frontenac,"  he  said  inquiringly. 

"  Only  so  long  as  to  make  sure,  to  acquire  all 
possible  information,"  answered  Sans  Souci.  "  Here 
is  my  news  for  mon  Sieur.  The  Iroquois  are  plan- 
ning a  descent  upon  the  Indians  of  Le  Detroit;  the 
Commandant  at  Fort  Frontenac  says  he  is  power- 
less to  prevent  it,  but  to  my  mind  it  looks  as  if,  since 
the  company  cannot  have  their  way  at  Fort  Pont- 
chartrain,  they  care  not ;  so  Fort  Pontchartrain  must 
needs  be  abandoned.  Their  messengers  may  come 
to  warn  you,  but  I  have  come  first." 

Here  was  information  to  shake  the  fortitude  of  the 
stoutest  heart ! 


28o     A    DAUGHTER   OF    NEW    FRANCE 

But  Cadillac  was  a  man  of  indomitable  will ;  in 
his  youth  he  had  set  out  to  conquer  fortune,  and 
never,  until  his  last  breath,  did  he  acknowledge  him- 
self vanquished. 

"  Sans  Souci,"  he  said  at  length  slowly  to  the  man, 
who  stood  motionless  at  his  side,  regarding  him  with 
serious  attention,  —  "  Sans  Souci,  forget  my  hasty 
words  of  blame.  You  have  rendered  a  great  service 
to  me,  to  Fort  Pontchartrain,  to  the  King.  I  will 
see  that  it  is  well  rewarded." 

"  It  was  for  mon  Sieur  alone  I  did  it,"  replied 
Sans  Souci,  stretching  out  his  hands  with  the  ardent 
demonstration  natural  to  the  people  of  New  France, 
as  to  their  forefathers  of  Normandy  and  La  Bretagne. 

"Chut!  Thou  art  a  good  fellow,"  returned  Cadillac, 
much  moved.  "  Come,  now  thou  shalt  tell  me  all 
thou  hast  learned  of  this  matter,  and  how  it  came  to 
thy  knowledge.  Meantime — " 

He  rang  a  little  silver  bell  that  stood  on  the  table 
close  at  his  hand,  and  Gaspard  appeared. 

"  Gaspard,"  said  he,  "  have  ready  meat  and  wine 
for  Sans  Souci  presently,  the  best  that  the  larder  and 
cellar  afford." 

When  Sans  Souci  had  told  his  story  and  was  gone 
with  the  major-domo  to  partake  of  the  cheer  of  the 
manor,  my  brother  sighed  once  more.  He  was,  in 
truth,  as  near  to  losing  courage  as  I  had  ever  seen 
him. 

"  Normand,"  he  said,  pushing  his  chair  out  of  the 
sunlight,  as  if  its  long  bright  lances  were  indeed 
levelled  against  him, — "Normand,  shut-to  the  door." 

I  did  so,  and  resumed  my  place. 

"  I  meant  that  Fort  Pontchartrain  should  be  to  the 
Iroquois  as  a  mailed  hand  holding  fast  closed  against 
them  the  Gates  of  the  Northwest,"  he  continued. 


THE   LODESTONE   OF   LOVE         281 

"  But  now,  when  there  is  war  again  between  England 
and  France,  and  with  our  Outawas  disaffected 
since  they  accepted  the  invitation  of  the  English 
and  went  to  Orange,  this  news  threatens  serious 
consequences." 

He  lapsed  into  a  melancholy  cogitation,  no  doubt 
planning  what  to  do ;  and  I  fell  silent  as  well,  think- 
ing bitterly  over  these  matters. 

Some  minutes  passed  thus ;  then,  of  a  sudden,  our 
Sieur  sprang  to  his  feet  and  began  pacing  the  room 
with  rapid  strides.  His  despondent  mood  had  passed, 
and  he  was  once  more  full  of  energy  and  action. 

"  Were  all  the  world  against  me,  I  would  fight  it 
still !  "  he  burst  out.  "  Good  courage  breaks  ill  luck  ; 
soldiers  in  peace  are  like  chimneys  in  summer;  small 
as  is  our  garrison,  't  is  as  well  that  their  arms  should 
not  gather  rust.  I  will  conciliate  our  savages  by 
presents,  but  I  will  also  overawe  them  by  my  author- 
ity. The  company  has  persecuted  me,  deprived  me 
of  my  prerogative  of  trading  with  the  Indians,  and 
sought  to  wrest  from  me  all  my  rights  and  privileges. 
Nevertheless,  I  shall  vanquish  them  in  the  end.  And 
if  the  Iroquois  come,  we  shall  be  ready  for  them." 

He  threw  back  his  head  and  drew  forth  his  sword, 
as  if  impatient  to  be  at  his  foes  without  delay.  But, 
there  being  no  one  save  myself  in  the  peaceful  salon, 
and  no  sign  of  an  enemy  without,  either  on  the  green 
or  upon  the  sunlit  expanse  of  the  strait  as  far  as  the 
eye  could  see,  with  an  impetuous  ejaculation  he 
dropped  the  blade  back  into  its  sheath  and  continued 
his  pacing  of  the  floor. 

A  few  moments  later,  Sans  Souci  returned.  As  he 
came,  drawing  the  sleeve  of  his  blue  blouse  across 
his  lips,  after  a  last  generous  draught  from  the  wine- 
cup,  he  stammered  effusively,  — 


282     A   DAUGHTER   OF   NEW   FRANCE 

"  Pardon !  I  forgot  to  tell  Monsieur  de  Cadillac 
another  morsel  of  news  that  I  gathered  in  my  ab- 
sence. At  Fort  Frontenac  I  learned  that  Madame 
de  Cadillac  and  her  children,  with  some  lady  or 
maid,  I  know  not  who,  are  on  their  way  back  to  Le 
Detroit." 

La  Mothe  stopped  short  and  stared  at  the  cou- 
reur  de  bois  in  blank  amazement. 

"  A  likely  tale,"  he  said  scornfully.  "  Madame 
Cadillac  and  her  party  are  not  to  come  until  the 
spring." 

"Ay,  so  it  was  to  be,  no  doubt,"  insisted  Sans 
Souci.  "  But  Madame  la  Seigneuress  became 
alarmed ;  she  encountered  some  hostility  toward 
Monsieur  le  Commandant  at  Quebec,  she  heard  that 
the  disgraced  commissioners  were  plotting  against 
him,  she  was  not  content  to  remain  away  any  longer. 
A  brave  lady  is  madame,  and  she  believes,  I  trow, 
that  when  a  man  is  pushed  by  his  enemies,  his  wife 
should  be  at  his  side." 

"  My  noble-hearted  Therese,"  murmured  Cadillac 
to  me  under  his  breath,  "  nothing  short  of  bolts  and 
bars  could  keep  her  from  setting  out  to  join  me,  if 
she  thought  I  was  in  trouble.  Heaven  reward  her  for 
her  loyal  love  !  And  yet,  womanlike,  she  must  needs 
add  to  my  predicament  by  rushing  into  the  midst  of 
the  danger !  My  God,  Normand,  if  she  should  fall 
into  the  hands  of  the  Iroquois,  if  my  children  should 
become  the  victims  of  these  merciless  red  hounds !  " 

Overcome  with  emotion,  he  sank  into  a  chair  and 
covered  his  eyes  with  his  hand. 

For  me,  my  heart  was  torn  with  rage  ;  I  felt  a  sicken- 
ing anxiety  for  Therese  and  her  children.  Barbe 
also  was  to  have  returned  with  them.  Was  it  not  she 
of  whom  the  coureur  de  bois  had  spoken  as  being 


THE   LODESTONE   OF   LOVE         283 

the  companion  of  my  sister?  There  surged  through 
my  soul  a  wild  longing  to  be  off  down  the  lakes  and 
through  the  forest;  to  search  the  wilderness  that 
lies  between  Le  Detroit  and  Montreal,  to  rescue  the 
woman  who  was  to  me  more  than  all  the  world  be- 
sides, from  the  danger  that  menaced  her;  to  protect 
and  fight  for  her  single-handed  against  all  the  Iro- 
quois  of  the  land,  and  bring  her  to  Le  Detroit  in 
safety.  At  the  same  time  a  horrible  dread  came 
upon  me  lest  even  now  I  should  be  too  late,  while,  as 
I  glanced  about  the  room,  as  one  who  seeks  a 
weapon  for  his  foe,  the  sunlight,  streaming  in  at  the 
window,  took,  to  my  disordered  fancy,  the  aspect 
of  a  bright  lock  of  golden  hair.  Was  the  ruthless 
hand  of  a  savage  to  be  laid  upon  the  shining  hair 
I  loved  so  well? 

"  Barbe,  Barbe  ! "  I  exclaimed  in  a  frenzy,  snatching 
at  my  rapier. 

And  then  my  anger  turned  against  the  coureur  de 
bois.  I  leaped  upon  him ;  but  La  Mothe  the  next 
moment  wrested  him  from  me  and  shook  the  poor 
wretch  until  I  have  since  marvelled  there  was  any 
breath  left  in  the  knave. 

"How  is  it,  Sans  Souci?"  he  cried  at  length, 
having  flung  the  fellow  from  him  with  such  force  that 
the  sturdy  wood-ranger  fell  sprawling  on  the  floor,  — 
"  How  is  it,  Sans  Souci,  that  you  have  come  hither 
in  such  haste  with  your  news  of  petty  official  malice, 
and  left  these  helpless  women,  my  wife  and  her 
friend,  my  beloved  children,  to  make  their  way  into 
the  very  ambushes  of  the  terrible  Iroquois?" 

The  hand  of  Sans  Souci  sought  his  knife,  but  fell  to 
his  side  again  empty,  as  he  scrambled  to  his  feet. 

"  Monsieur  de  Cadillac  wrongs  me,"  he  stated  sul- 
lenly. "I  thought  it  best  to  come  on;  but  I  have 


284     A   DAUGHTER   OF   NEW   FRANCE 

already  told  him  that  I  sent  a  messenger  down  to 
Montreal.  There  is  in  the  woods  no  better  man  than 
he.  I  bade  him  travel  night  and  day  and,  arrived  at 
Ville  Marie,  to  seek  out  Madame  Cadillac  at  once,  or 
if  she  had  departed,  to  follow  her,  to  advise  her 
return  to  Quebec ;  but  if  she  would  not,  to  attach 
himself  to  her  escort,  and  lead  them  through  the 
forest  by  a  way  known  only  to  the  coureur  de  bois." 

"  Sans  Souci,  forgive  me,"  said  Cadillac,  with  impet- 
uous chivalry,  laying  a  hand  upon  the  woodsman's 
shoulder:  "  I  was  beside  myself  with  anxiety.  You 
shall  lead  a  party,  headed  by  Monsieur  Guyon, 
through  the  woods  or  by  the  waters  to  meet  the 
travellers  who  are  so  dear  to  me,  and  if  they  reach 
Le  Detroit  in  safety,  I  will  bestow  upon  you  the  best 
farm  in  my  gift,  should  you  be  minded  to  relinquish 
your  roving  life  and  cultivate  the  soil  like  a 
Christian." 

"Monsieur  le  Commandant  has  my  thanks,"  an- 
swered Sans  Souci.  "  If  another  had  used  me  thus, 
he  should  rue  the  day."  Here  he  glanced  at  me 
fiercely.  "But  one  stabs  not  a  man  in  his  agony; 
and  there  are  worse  agonies  than  the  throes  of  death. 
I  had  a  wife,  a  gentle  Miami  maiden,  faithful  and  lov- 
ing as  any  woman  of  New  France.  The  Iroquois 
killed  her ;  at  the  scalp-belt  of  some  demon  warrior 
hangs  her  beautiful  crow-black  hair.  I  know  the  fury 
that  possesses  the  heart  of  a  man  at  the  dread  of  such 
a  fate  for  the  woman  dear  to  him.  As  for  the  land, 
—  when  I  have  found  that  fiend  of  an  Iroquois,  when 
I  have  hewn  him  down  as  one  hews  wood  for  the 
burning,  then  will  I  remind  Monsieur  de  Cadillac  of 
his  promise.  But,  until  then,  Sans  Souci  cannot 
keep  away  from  the  forest  and  the  lakes ;  his  own 
heart  bids  him  avenge  the  fate  of  his  Indian  wife,  but 


THE   LODESTONE   OF   LOVE         285 

ever  across  the  waters  and  from  the  glades  and 
thickets  he  hears  her  sweet  voice  calling  to  him. 
The  soft  breezes  seem  like  her  spirit  passing  near 
him;  the  plash  of  the  woodland  springs  is  like  the 
music  of  her  laugh ;  at  evening  the  light  of  the  stars 
shining  through  the  trees  minds  him  of  the  bright- 
ness of  her  eyes ;  the  fallen  leaves  rustled  by  the 
wind  bring  back  to  him  her  footfalls.  And  ever  she 
bids  him  for  her  sake  to  save  any  woman,  of  high  or 
low  degree,  who  may  be  in  danger  from  the  Iroquois. 
Is  it  to  be  supposed,  then,  that  I  would  abandon  so 
noble  a  lady  as  Madame  Cadillac  to  the  mercy  of 
these  savage  foes  ?  " 

As  he  thus  defended  his  conduct,  the  rude  woods- 
man seemed  transformed  by  the  emotions  that  stirred 
his  rugged  nature,  while  his  rude  eloquence  astonished 
us. 

"  Sans  Souci,"  I  said,  taking  from  my  belt  a  Spanish 
dagger  cased  in  silver  which  had  been  given  me  by 
my  uncle  Guyonof  old,  —  "  Sans  Souci,  I  too  wronged 
you  in  my  thoughts.  I  too  fancied  you  had  failed 
to  warn  my  sister  and  the  fair  lady  who  is  perchance 
her  companion,  a  lady  far  dearer  to  me  than  my  life. 
Accept  this,  a  fit  gift  for  a  brave  man,  as  a  token  that 
there  is  no  ill  will  between  us." 

At  my  words  and  act,  the  surliness  of  his  manner 
vanished,  and  he  grasped  the  poniard  with  delight. 

"  My  faith,  a  fine  dirk,  monsieur,"  he  cried.  "  I  will 
remember  nothing  save  that  you  gave  it  to  me,  and  it 
will,  in  my  hand,  be  ever  at  the  service  of  the  lady." 

And  after  this  gallant  speech,  having  promised  to 
set  out  with  our  expedition  in  two  hours'  time,  he 
took  himself  off. 

When  he  had  gone,  I  set  to  gathering  together  cor- 
dials and  such  delicacies  as  might  refresh  the  ladies 


286     A    DAUGHTER   OF   NEW   FRANCE 

upon  their  journey,  my  own  preparations  being  soon 
made. 

"  Will  they  return  to  Quebec,  or  will  they  come  on, 
that  is  the  question?"  mused  La  Mothe,  aloud. 

"  If  I  know  my  sister  Therese,  she  will  never  turn 
back,  unless  it  may  be  for  the  sake  of  her  children," 
I  replied. 

"  You  are  right,  Normand.  Therese  may  send  the 
children  to  Quebec,  but  she  will  come  at  all  hazards," 
he  added  presently. 

"  As  for  Madame  de  Chateauguay,  why  should 
she  run  so  immense  a  risk?  'T  was  a  strange  whim 
that  prompted  her  to  choose  a  home  with  Therese  in 
the  wilderness ;  but  now,  't  were  better,  assuredly,  that 
she  should  remain  either  at  Beauport  or  with  the 
family  of  De  Longueil." 

"Better  far,"  I  echoed,  honestly  hoping  for  her 
sake  that  she  had  so  decided.  But,  alack,  how  selfish 
we  are  even  in  the  affections  we  esteem  our  noblest ! 
While  I  reasoned  thus,  my  heart  persistently  whispered, 
"What  Therese  would  dare,  why  might  not  Barbe?" 
And  then  again  it  cried  out  in  apprehension  of  the 
perils  of  her  way,  should  she  be  so  rash  as  to  under- 
take the  voyage. 

"At  last  I  see  how  the  wind  blows,"  continued 
my  brother,  smiling :  "  and  now  I  bethink  me,  Thdrese 
would  fain  have  opened  my  eyes  some  time  since." 

"  My  sister  ever  loved  a  romance,"  I  answered  with 
heat. 

Our  Sieur  laughed. 

"  Be  that  as  it  may,"  he  responded,  "  I  venture 
not  a  hazard  as  to  whether  the  fair  Chatelaine  inclines 
to  you,  since  the  heart  of  a  good  woman  is  as  the 
seclusion  of  the  forest.  But  this  I  can  tell  you,  Nor- 
mand ;  the  love  of  a  sweetheart  falls  very  far  short  of 


THE   LODESTONE    OF   LOVE         287 

the  devotion  of  a  wife,  and  I  doubt  if  your  lady  would 
come  so  far  to  see  you  slaughtered  by  the  Iroquois." 

"I  think  she  will  not  come;  why  should  she,  in 
Heaven's  name?"  I  retorted  testily  to  his  grim  jest. 
"  Perchance  the  companion  said  to  be  with  Therese 
may  be  only  my  sister's  waiting-maid.  Still,  I  shall 
on  toward  Montreal  until  I  meet  Therese  or  obtain 
some  news  of  herself  and  Barbe,  by  which  my  future 
course  may  be  determined." 

"  Yes,  yes,  I  knew  I  could  do  no  better  than  to  send 
you,"  replied  my  brother. 

"  Had  you  not,  I  should  have  deserted  and  gone, 
anyhow,"  I  declared  fiercely. 

Thereat  he  laughed  again. 

"  Ay,  ay,  he  who  has  love  in  his  breast  has  spurs  to 
his  heels,"  he  said.  "  And  I  wager  you  will  find 
Madame  de  Chateauguay  if  she  be  on  the  way  hither, 
for  love  is  the  lodestone  of  love." 


CHAPTER  TWENTY-FIRST 

EVERY   LOVER   IS   A   SOLDIER 

IN  order  not  to  give  notice  of  our  plan  to  the  Outa- 
was,  whose  friendship  for  the  French  had  grown 
cold,  it  was  necessary  that  the  party  sent  to  meet  and 
escort  Madame  Cadillac  should  set  out  secretly. 
Therefore  at  the  hour  named  I  went  with  Frere  Con- 
stantin  in  his  canoe  across  the  strait,  and  thence 
tramped  with  him  into  the  forest,  as  if  accompanying 
him  upon  some  missionary  errand,  as  was  at  times 
my  wont. 

When  we  had  gone  about  a  league  from  the  fort, 
we  were  joined  by  Sans  Souci,  and  in  the  course  of 
half  an  hour  there  gathered  around  us  a  band  of  some 
twenty  Miami  and  Huron  braves  who  had  stolen  away 
one  by  one  from  their  villages. 

Our  preparations  complete,  we  —  French  and 
savage  —  fell  upon  our  knees  for  the  blessing  of  the 
Recollet. 

"  God  guide  you,  my  children  !  May  the  Almighty 
Christian  Manitou,  who  holds  the  world  in  the  hollow 
of  his  hand,  preserve  you  and  those  whom  you  go  to 
protect,"  said  Father  del  Halle,  impressively  stretch- 
ing forth  his  arms  over  us.  The  next  moment  we 
sprang  to  our  feet  ready  to  depart. 

My  kind  friend  turned  to  me  again,  with  paternal 
affection. 

"  God  keep  you,  Normand,"  he  continued  ;  "  may 
He  give  you  success  upon  your  errand." 


EVERY   LOVER   IS   A   SOLDIER       289 

A  wave  of  emotion  swept  over  me.  I  could  not 
speak,  but  on  the  impulse,  and  reserved  man  though 
I  was,  I  knelt  once  more  and,  as  is  the  custom  of  the 
lads  of  New  France,  raised  the  hand  of  the  good  cure" 
to  my  lips. 

Thereat  he  was  much  moved,  and  making  the 
sign  of  the  cross  upon  my  brow,  blessed  me  again. 

Ah,  that  parting !  How  frequently  since  have  I 
recalled  it,  and  how  thankful  am  I  that,  as  time  went 
on,  the  tie  of  friendship  that  bound  me  to  Frere  Con- 
stantin  waxed  stronger  and  our  esteem  for  each  other 
more  tender.  As  I  look  back  now,  it  seems  to  me 
that  from  this  time  the  likeness  I  had  ever  observed 
in  him  to  the  gentle  Francis  of  Assisi  grew  more 
marked  ;  the  shy  creatures  of  the  woods,  the  squir- 
rels and  the  deer,  fled  not  in  timidity  at  his  approach, 
nor  did  the  birds  fly  away  or  cease  their  song.  And 
with  the  Indians  no  one  who  ever  toiled  in  this 
region,  save  only  the  revered  Pere  Marquette,  ever 
had  greater  influence. 

In  Old  France  the  people  have  a  legend  whereof 
I  have  often  bethought  me  in  our  wilderness.  At 
the  season  when  the  earth  is  in  its  glory,  either 
with  the  freshness  of  spring  or  in  Nature's  ripened 
loveliness,  —  at  such  season,  say  the  peasants,  on  the 
morning  of  some  perfect  day  there  comes  to  the 
forests  an  hour  of  holiness.  The  trees  bend  low  their 
stately  heads,  the  flowers  give  forth  their  sweetest 
fragrance,  the  soft  breeze  sweeps  the  green  carpet  of 
moss  and  vines,  the  birds  awake  yet  forget  to  sing, 
and  the  streams  flow  with  fainter  music,  as  they  wait 
in  reverence.  At  that  hour,  heralded  by  the  first  rays 
of  light,  the  blessed  Christ  walks  through  the  Woods. 
Ay,  of  the  legend  I  often  thought  as  I  beheld  Fr£re 
Constantin,  so  true  a  follower  of  the  Divine  Mission- 


290     A   DAUGHTER   OF   NEW   FRANCE 

ary,  traversing  our  trackless  forests  of  New  France 
with  his  message  of  peace  and  good-will. 

Some  ten  days  our  party  journeyed,  through  the 
heart  of  the  Indian  summer.  The  hand  of  God 
seemed  to  rest  upon  the  forests,  so  glorious  were 
they  in  their  splendor  of  gold  and  crimson  and  rus- 
set. Ever  we  pressed  onward,  keeping  a  sharp  look- 
out for  foes  in  ambush,  yet  animated  by  the  happy 
spirit  of  adventure  which  finds  a  zest  in  the  proximity 
of  danger. 

Once  we  crossed  the  trail  of  a  band  of  savages 
whom  our  Hurons  said  were  Iroquois,  from  certain 
signs  I  wot  not  of;  for  the  children  of  the  wilderness, 
like  the  wild  creatures  who  share  their  haunts,  are 
wondrous  versed  in  the  lore  of  Nature,  and  pay  close 
heed  to  her  ambassadors,  the  winds  and  waters.  To 
them  a  crushed  vine,  a  broken  twig,  is  often  a  clue 
to  the  designs  of  their  enemies. 

On  another  day  Sans  Souci,  hearing  a  sound  in  a 
thicket  which  he  took  to  be  the  stir  of  a  young  elk, 
fired  into  the  greenery.  The  next  moment  a  hoarse 
whoop  rent  the  air,  and  a  savage  leaped  out  upon 
him,  but  only,  with  another  unearthly  yell,  to  fall 
dead  at  his  feet. 

It  was  Mawkwa,  the  father  of  Ishkodah  the  Fury, 
who  had  dogged  our  way. 

This  discovery  showed  us  that  our  expedition 
had,  despite  our  precautions,  become  known  to  the 
hostile  Outawas,  and  gave  us  some  uneasiness,  on 
account  of  the  ladies  whom  we  were  hastening  to 
meet. 

"  Pardieu  !  That  yell  will  bring  the  red  inhabitants 
of  the  wilds  upon  us  like  a  nest  of  hornets,"  I  ex- 
claimed as  I  drew  my  blade,  ready  for  the  others, 
should  they  leap  forth. 


EVERY   LOVER   IS  A   SOLDIER       291 

For  answer,  Sans  Souci  took  his  knife  from  his 
belt,  rolled  the  body  of  the  dead  savage  out  of  our 
path  with  his  foot,  and  we  pressed  on,  our  Indians 
following  with  bent  bows. 

The  dying  outcry  of  the  chief  summoned  no 
band  of  infuriated  redskins,  however.  Nor  did 
aught  come  of  our  encounter  with  a  small  party  of 
Iroquois,  a  day  or  two  later,  when  we  had  a  sharp 
fight  and  I  laid  low  a  brawny  fellow  who  had  raised 
his  hatchet  to  hew  down  Sans  Souci,  and  received  an 
arrow  that  was  meant  for  my  heart  but  by  a  fortunate 
chance  lodged  in  the  fleshy  part  of  my  arm.  From 
it,  though  the  wound  was  slight,  I  should  doubtless 
have  suffered  much,  by  reason  of  the  poison,  had 
not  one  of  our  allies  made  for  the  hurt  a  poultice 
of  certain  leaves  which  took  from  it  much  of  the 
fire. 

Thus  we  went  onward  for  above  a  week,  over  the 
wastes  and  across  the  inland  waters,  at  the  portages 
our  men  carrying  the  canoes  upon  their  shoulders. 

One  morning,  after  having  floated  down  a  small 
river,  we  landed,  and  crossed  a  valley  where  we  had 
a  shot  at  a  grazing  herd  of  buffaloes,  and  I  brought 
down  a  fierce  bull  while  one  of  our  Indians  laid  low 
another.  The  remainder  of  the  herd  sped  away, 
and  were  quickly  lost  to  sight  in  a  neighboring 
grove. 

Half  an  hour  later,  the  same  Indian  bent  his  bow 
at  a  stirring  of  the  underbrush,  as  we  wandered  in 
the  forest ;  but  ere  he  could  let  fly  one  of  his  fateful 
arrows,  Sans  Souci  caught  his  arm. 

A  moment  after,  out  from  among  the  bushes, 
sprang  a  great  gray  dog,  of  the  kind  that  is  of  the 
breed  of  the  wolf,  and  a  denizen  of  the  wilderness. 

"  Have  a  care,  Sans  Souci,  the  creature  will  tear 


292     A   DAUGHTER   OF  NEW  FRANCE 

you  as  he  would  a  rabbit;  and  this  you  well  know," 
I  cried,  as  the  animal  leaped  upon  the  coureur  de 
bois  in  a  frenzy  of  excitement. 

But  it  was  not  as  I  feared,  the  dog  was  not  mad 
with  rage ;  on  the  contrary,  he  was  nearly  crazed 
with  joy. 

"  Ma  belle,  ma  belle !  It  is  Mishawaha  herself,  my 
faithful  Mishawaha,"  exclaimed  Sans  Souci,  scarcely 
less  delighted  than  the  yelping  beast.  "Ah,  mon- 
sieur, now  we  shall  speedily  have  tidings  of  those 
whom  you  seek.  I  left  Mishawaha  among  my  friends 
in  the  woods  some  leagues  from  Fort  Frontenac. 
She  must  have  followed  the  coureur  de  bois  whom  I 
sent  to  escort  Madame  Cadillac.  Madame  la  Seign- 
euress  and  her  party  must  be  in  this  neighborhood, 
unless —  He  shook  his  head  ominously,  and  con- 
tinued under  his  breath,  "  Mishawaha  is  not  wont  to 
be  so  foolish !  Why  does  she  menace  the  safety  of 
those  whom  she  undertook  to  guard,  by  straying 
away  from  them  and  raising  this  din?  Unless  — 

He  broke  off  abruptly,  and  it  was  with  a  sinking 
heart  that  I  pushed  ahead  of  him  upon  the  trail  to 
which  the  dog  led  us. 

Thank  God,  our  dire  forebodings  came  to  naught. 
The  sagacious  animal  had  only  discovered  the  ap- 
proach of  her  master,  and  had  stolen  away  to  greet 
him. 

Beyond  a  little  hillock  we  entered  presently  a 
secluded  ravine.  Here  we  found  the  party  we 
sought,  just  as  they  were  about  to  break  camp  for 
the  journey  of  the  day. 

What  a  providence  it  is  that  the  route  from  Mon- 
treal to  Le  Detroit  and  the  Northwest  is  marked  out 
by  so  many  noble  water-ways  down  which  the  voyager 
may  float  in  restfulness !  Had  it  been  otherwise, 


EVERY   LOVER   IS  A   SOLDIER       293 

never  could  even  the  most  valiant  of  women  have 
attempted  the  journey. 

As  I  advanced  through  the  greenery,  I  now  saw 
before  me  a  most  captivating  picture.  Seated  like  a 
queen  upon  the  bank  of  the  ravine  was  my  sister,  Ma- 
dame Cadillac,  as  serene  as  though  posed  for  her  por- 
trait by  that  same  young  painter,  Antoine  Watteau,  of 
whom  I  have  erstwhile  made  mention  as  having  later 
won  fame ;  my  sweet  sister  Therese,  in  a  robe  of  dun 
color  laced  with  silver,  her  brown  hair  dressed  low,  — 
for,  happily,  the  fontange  was  going  out  of  vogue,  — 
her  hazel  eyes  shining  softly  as  the  starlight  for  which 
the  Indians  named  her.  The  fresh  breeze  had  brought 
a  pink  tint  to  her  usually  pale  cheeks,  and  despite 
the  sombreness  of  her  attire,  she  looked  younger  and 
still  more  comely  than  when  she  went  away.  There, 
beside  her,  was  little  Jacques,  now  playing  with  the 
dog,  which  had  bounded  back  to  them  in  an  abandon- 
ment of  glee  the  reason  whereof  they  failed  to  under- 
stand. There  was  Franchise,  the  maid,  coquetting 
with  their  guide,  a  handsome  young  coureur  de  bois; 
there,  forming  a  circle  of  dark  faces,  were  the  Indians 
who  made  up  the  escort.  And  there  —  yes,  verily, 
and  I  felt  my  face  flush  red,  as  my  eyes  turned  upon 
her,  standing  just  beyond  Therese,  and  clasping  in 
her  arms  a  great  bouquet  of  scarlet  sumach  sprays 
and  golden  maple  leaves,  —  there  was  Barbe,  also  most 
quietly  attired,  and  wearing  upon  her  shining  hair  a 
little  coif  of  velvet;  Barbe,  more  lovely  than  I  had 
ever  beheld  her. 

At  my  appearance  both  women  screamed,  doubting 
if  it  could  be  myself  in  the  flesh.  My  voice  speedily 
reassured  them,  however,  and  Therese  fell  upon  my 
breast  with  a  glad  cry.  Young  Jacques  caught  me 
by  the  coat;  even  Fran£oise  forgot  her  coureur  de 


294     A    DAUGHTER    OF   NEW   FRANCE 

bois  long  enough  to  murmur  an  ecstatic  "  Oh,  mon- 
sieur !  "  and  clapped  her  palms  together  as  she  looked 
up  to  the  fair  sky  in  thankfulness.  Only  Barbe  stood 
aloof,  with  a  strange  shyness  that  yet  gave  her,  to  my 
mind,  an  added  grace. 

"  Miladi  Barbe,  have  you  not  a  welcome  for  me?" 
I  asked,  drawing  near  to  her  when  Therese  let  me 
free. 

"A  thousand,  Normand,"  she  said  in  a  tremulous 
tone,  and  thereat  quickly  turned  away  her  gaze, 
thinking  perhaps  to  hide  from  me  the  tears  in  her 
bright  eyes,  —  tears  that  were  like  glistening  dewdrops 
upon  two  purple  violets. 

I  took  her  hands  in  mine  and,  bending  my  head, 
touched  them  with  my  lips. 

"  Did  you  not  know  I  would  come,  Barbe?  "  I  whis- 
pered earnestly. 

Again  those  beautiful  eyes  met  my  own. 

"  Yes,  Normand,  I  knew  you  would  come,"  she 
answered  gently. 

And  then,  as  once  before,  in  her  girlhood's  days 
at  the  siege  of  Quebec,  she  saw  that  I  was  wounded. 

"Oh,  Normand,  how  came  this?  "  she  cried,  going 
deathly  white.  "  A  scratch  from  an  Indian  arrow, 
you  say  !  Are  you  sure  the  wound  has  been  properly 
tended?  A  dressing  of  some  forest  herb,  moistened 
at  a  spring  of  clear  cool  water,  is  the  remedy,  they 
tell  me." 

Thereupon  she  must  needs  hear  all  about  the 
skirmish,  and  learn  from  the  Miami  what  he  had  done 
for  me;  though  'twas  of  a  far  different  matter  I  was 
minded  to  talk  to  her. 

Howbeit  she  gave  me  no  chance,  —  neither  then, 
nor  during  our  journey  back  to  Fort  Pontchartrain. 
Moreover,  she  was  at  great  pains  to  explain  to  me 


EVERY   LOVER   IS   A   SOLDIER       295 

that  she  had  come  with  Madame  Cadillac  because 
to  her  mind  Therese  ran  into  peril  by  coming  at  all, 
and  she  could  not  see  her  set  out  with  no  woman 
companion  other  than  her  maid.  As  if  the  com- 
panionship of  so  lovely  a  lady  as  the  Chatelaine  of 
Chateauguay  would  make  the  way  safer  for  my 
sister ! 

By  a  special  providence,  or  so  it  seemed,  we  reached 
Le  Detroit  in  safety,  and  the  wife  of  Cadillac  was  in- 
stalled in  the  new  manor,  with  the  Lady  of  Chateau- 
guay again  as  her  guest. 

At  the  fort  all  were  still  on  the  watch  and  prepared 
as  far  as  might  be  for  the  coming  of  the  Iroquois. 

The  savages  of  Le  Detroit  were  warned  by  our 
Sieur  of  the  threatened  attack  from  their  ancient 
foe ;  the  tomahawk  painted  red  was  sent  from  village 
to  village ;  the  Medicine  Men  consulted  their  Mani- 
tous.  Bands  of  our  warriors  ranged  the  forests,  or, 
taking  to  their  canoes,  floated  down  the  strait  and 
the  Lake  of  the  Eries,  on  the  alert  to  discover  the 
movements  of  the  enemy.  Saint  Martin's  Summer, 
usually  a  time  devoted  to  the  annual  games  and 
thank  offerings  of  the  Indians,  was  become  a  season 
of  practice  for  war. 

One  starlight  night  a  party  of  braves  returned  to 
Le  Detroit  in  triumph,  with  scalps  at  their  belts,  and 
bringing  some  six  or  seven  captives.  They  had  met 
a  band  of  Iroquois,  had  fought  them,  and  slain  a 
goodly  number. 

At  the  gates  of  the  palisade  they  demanded  an 
interview  with  the  Commandant.  Albeit  the  hour 
was  late,  the  chief,  Wingeezee,  was  admitted,  and  con- 
ducted to  the  presence  of  De  la  Mothe,  and  the  inter- 
preter De  Lorme  was  summoned  to  the  parley  in  the 
council  room  of  the  barracks. 


296     A   DAUGHTER   OF   NEW   FRANCE 

"  My  father,"  began  the  chief,  "  we  have  met  a 
horde  of  Iroquois  and  have  slain  many.  With  these 
our  foes  was  a  white  warrior  who  fought  with  as 
great  fierceness  as  any  red  man,  yet  with  less  of 
cunning,  it  looked  to  us,  since  twice  he  spared  two  of 
our  number  who  were  wounded ;  an  Indian  delays  not 
to  drive  the  tomahawk  into  the  heart  of  a  fallen 
enemy.  The  Iroquois  who  were  not  hewn  down 
like  the  trees  of  the  forest,  fled,  abandoning  their 
pale-faced  ally  to  us.  But  thinking  our  Father  would 
be  angry  with  us,  if  we  robbed  him  of  his  vengeance, 
we  have  brought  the  white  chief  to  our  Father,  to 
do  with  him  as  he  wills." 

"  Wingeezee,  you  and  your  warriors  have  done 
well,"  replied  Monsieur  de  Cadillac,  inclining  his  head. 
"  There  is  no  braver  chief  on  Le  Detroit  than  the 
great  Eagle.  I  will  tell  Onontio  in  Quebec  of  your 
service  to  the  French.  Gifts  you  shall  have  of  me, 
also,  when  you  have  delivered  this  captive  into  my 
hands." 

"  This  night  he  shall  be  given  to  my  Father,"  said 
the  chief. 

"Let  him  be  rendered  to  Sergeant  Jolicceur  at 
the  gate,  and  Monsieur  Guyon  will  furnish  to  you, 
Wingeezee,  such  stores  from  the  King's  ammunition 
as  shall  compensate  you,"  decreed  the  Commandant. 

Selecting  a  fusee  and  a  small  quantity  of  powder 
and  bullets  from  the  storehouse,  I  went  with  the  chief 
to  the  gate. 

The  white  man  had  been  bound  hand  and  foot, 
and  was  passed  over  to  us  like  a  log,  being  borne  in 
and  laid  upon  the  ground  by  two  of  the  Indians. 
I  then  presented  the  mus)  et  and  ammunition  to 
Wingeezee,  — a  dangerous  gift,  but  he  would  have 
been  satisfied  with  naught  else. 


EVERY   LOVER   IS   A   SOLDIER        297 

When  he  and  his  followers  were  gone,  I  looked  to- 
ward the  prisoner.  His  head  was  turned  to  one  side, 
and  his  chapeau  had  slipped  down  so  as  to  partly 
conceal  his  face.  I  knew  from  his  uniform,  however, 
that  he  was  English,  and  my  heart  grew  hot  with 
anger. 

"  Bah !  the  hardihood  of  these  Bostonnais,  thus  to 
venture  into  the  wilderness,"  I  muttered  to  myself. 
"  What  could  he  hope  for  but  to  be  abandoned  by 
his  allies,  should  their  opponents  prove  too  strong 
for  them?  How  little  wit  he  had,  to  spare  the  lives 
of  our  savages,  who  know  not  the  emotion  of  mercy ! 
Small  wonder  he  was  taken  captive." 

Much  as  I  hated  the  red-coat,  it  was  not  seemly  to 
leave  him  thus  bound. 

No  sooner  did  the  thought  occur  to  me  than  I 
strode  over  to  where  he  lay  and  with  a  stroke  of  my 
rapier  cut  the  thongs  that  held  him  rigid. 

"  Rise,  monsieur,"  I  said.  "  Whatever  indignities 
you  may  have  suffered  at  the  hands  of  the  savages 
are  now  passed.  Honor  needs  no  bonds.  You  are 
indeed  still  a  prisoner,  but  a  prisoner  of  the  King  of 
France ;  and  whatever  may  be  your  fate,  be  assured 
you  will  be  accorded  the  treatment  of  a  gentleman, 
in  so  far  as  it  is  possible  thus  to  treat  an  emissary  of 
our  foes." 

Whether  there  was  in  my  words  aught  of  comfort 
for  the  unhappy  man,  I  cannot  say.  No  sooner  did 
he  feel  himself  free  than  he  sprang  to  his  feet  and 
glanced  about  him. 

But  his  limbs  were  palsied  from  having  been  so 
long  bandaged,  and  a  faintness  came  over  him,  caus- 
ing him  to  sink  back  upon  the  ground  with  a  groan. 

"  Phouff!  The  savages  made  him  abstain  from 
food  more  rigorously  than  an  anchorite,  and,  I  doubt 


298     A    DAUGHTER   OF   NEW   FRANCE 

not,  the  poor  wretch  is  wellnigh  crazed  with  thirst 
as  well,"  quoth  Jolicceur. 

Compassion  was  not  dead  within  me.  I  put  a 
draught  of  water  to  the  lips  of  the  captive,  and  when 
he  had  revived  in  a  slight  degree,  gave  him  a  cup  of 
wine. 

Soon  his  strength  returned  in  part,  and  getting 
upon  his  feet  once  more,  he  straightened  himself 
with  a  haughty  air  and  gave  me  a  glance  wherein 
were  blended  gratitude  for  my  service,  pride,  and 
courage. 

His  countenance  was  strangely  familiar  to  me. 
Where  had  I  seen  him  before? 

"  Monsieur,"  I  said  presently,  in  courteous  fashion, 
"  I  regret  to  behold  a  brave  man  in  so  sad  a  plight." 

"  'T  is  the  fortune  of  war,"  he  answered  with  sang- 
froid, as  though  in  the  outcome  of  his  dilemma  he 
had  no  concern,  —  a  coolness  as  unlike  the  dashing 
gallantry  of  a  Frenchman  under  similar  circumstances 
as  is  the  impenetrability  of  ice  to  the  sparkling  cool- 
ness of  a  forest  spring.  "  But  how  have  you  con- 
cluded that  I  am  not  a  poltroon?"  he  added  with  a 
calm  smile. 

"  Only  a  man  brave  unto  rashness  would  rush  into 
the  heart  of  an  enemy's  country  with  a  body  of 
treacherous  Indians  and  upon  a  fool's  errand,"  I  re- 
turned with  sharp  evasion. 

At  my  plain  naming  of  his  mission,  he  scowled 
defiantly,  and,  in  obedience  to  the  instinct  of  a  soldier, 
his  hand  sought  his  sword,  then  dropped  to  his  side, 
as  he  despondently  realized  that  the  weapon  had 
been  taken  from  him. 

"  If  monsieur  is  ready,  I  will  conduct  him  to  the 
Commandant,"  I  continued,  regretting  my  bluntness. 

He  bowed  assent,  and  I  led  the  way,  the  red-coat 


EVERY   LOVER   IS   A   SOLDIER        299 

coming  next,  and  Jolicoeur  bringing  up  the  rear,  and 
keeping  a  close  eye  upon  the  prisoner,  as  was  his 
duty. 

The  council  room  of  the  barracks  wore  a  funereal 
aspect  as  we  entered  it.  The  rough  walls  were  dark 
with  shadows ;  the  flickering  light  of  the  pine  knots 
smoking  in  their  sockets  was  veritably  ghastly. 

Upon  the  dais  at  one  end  of  the  room  sat  Cadillac, 
majestic  and  imposing  in  his  fine  court  dress.  Evi- 
dently he  would  fain  impress  the  Englishman  with 
his  dignity  as  the  representative  of  the  King  of 
France,  and  his  own  sovereignty,  I  may  say,  over  the 
region  into  which  the  stranger  had  intruded  with 
such  temerity. 

The  scene  minded  me  of  a  picture  from  a  graver's 
plate  that  I  saw  in  Paris,  —  a  gravure  of  one  Jacques 
Gallot,  which  represented  the  sombre  chances  of  war, 
and  was  as  far  removed  from  gay  little  pastorals 
from  the  brush  of  the  young  Antoine  Watteau,  as 
is  the  sunshine  from  the  gloom  of  dusk,  when  the 
rays  of  light  die  away,  like  the  glow  of  a  torch  that 
is  quenched. 

The  prisoner  saluted  the  assembly  with  quiet  non- 
chalance, and  then  stood  before  them  erect  and  with 
a  scornful  air,  as  one  who  minded  not  the  stateliness 
of  the  tribunal  nor  cared  to  plead  for  clemency. 

"  Monsieur,"  said  Cadillac,  addressing  him,  "  you 
are  a  Bostonnais.  What  is  your  name?  " 

"Sir  Commandant,  I  am  an  English  officer;  this 
is  all  you  need  to  know,"  he  corrected  suavely. 

"  With  us,  monsieur,  the  terms  Bostonnais  and  Eng- 
lish are  synonymous,  though  some  among  us  are  more 
versed  in  your  southern  geography  than  may  be 
supposed,"  rejoined  De  la  Mothe.  "  You  decline  to 
say  how  you  are  called;  well,  Monsieur  le  Boston- 


300     A   DAUGHTER    OF   NEW   FRANCE 

nais,  have  you  any  explanation  to  make  ?  How  came 
you  to  be  in  this  new  province  of  the  King  of  France 
at  the  time  of  your  apprehension?  " 

"  I  was  a  traveller,"  began  the  Englishman, 
guardedly. 

"  Nay,  monsieur,  these  papers,"  interrupted  our 
Sieur,  tapping  with  his  finger  a  small  packet  that 
had  been  put  into  his  hand  by  Wingeezee,  —  "  these 
papers,  a  diminutive  but  well-drawn  map  showing 
the  country,  these  notes  of  our  defences  prove  you 
had  ere  now  ventured  near  enough  to  our  fortifi- 
cations to  observe  them  carefully.  You  are  a  spy, 
monsieur,  and  the  fate  of  a  spy,  you  know,  is 
death." 

The  words  of  Cadillac  were  followed  by  a  moment 
of  terrible  silence.  There  was  no  hope  for  the 
stranger;  his  papers  had  convicted  him. 

At  this  time,  in  face  of  the  danger  that  threatened 
the  very  existence  of  the  fort,  the  Commandant 
would  be  inexorable,  as  a  glance  at  the  set  visage  of 
La  Mothe  assured  me. 

The  momentous  stillness,  during  which  we  heard 
no  sound  save  the  breathing  of  one  another,  was 
broken  at  last  by  the  prisoner  himself. 

"  Monsieur  le  Commandant,"  he  said,  throwing 
back  his  head  proudly,  "  it  was  not  a  love  of  glory 
that  led  me  to  undertake  a  journey  into  the  country 
of  those  with  whom  my  people  are  at  war ;  yet  fame 
I  should  have  won  had  I  been  successful.  I  came  in 
the  service  of  my  flag.  You  term  me  a  spy,  but  in 
my  own  land  I  shall  be  honored  as  a  hero.  I  fear  not 
death,  and  crave  not  your  mercy.  All  I  ask  of  your 
chivalry  is  as  to  the  manner  of  my  death.  I  am  a 
gentleman  and  a  soldier ;  let  me  die  then  to  the  roll 
of  the  drum  and  the  report  of  a  volley  of  musketry." 


EVERY   LOVER   IS   A   SOLDIER       301 

"The  punishment  decreed  for  a  spy  is  not  that 
he  be  shot,"  answered  Monsieur  de  Cadillac,  curtly. 

His  words  must  have  been  as  a  cruel  blow  to  the 
Englishman ;  nevertheless  the  latter  lost  not  his 
coolness,  but  drew  himself  up  more  rigidly  than 
before,  if  this  were  possible,  and  unflinchingly  met 
the  gaze  of  his  foes. 

With  all  the  dignity  at  his  command,  my  brother 
arose  and  pronounced  sentence. 

"  Monsieur  le  Bostonnais,"  he  said,  "  as  the  rep- 
resentative here  at  Fort  Pontchartrain  of  his  Majesty 
Louis  the  Fourteenth,  King  of  France,  and  of  the 
provinces  of  New  France  and  Acadia,  and  of  Le 
Detroit,  and  by  virtue  of  the  authority  vested  in  me, 
I,  Commandant  and  Seigneur,  having  in  my  posses- 
sion incontestable  proofs  of  your  guilt,  do  upon  their 
evidence  condemn  you  as  a  spy,  and  decree  that 
to-morrow  at  sunrise,  at  the  gate  of  the  palisade,  you 
shall  be  hanged  by  the  neck  until  dead." 

A  long-drawn  sigh  was  the  only  sound  heard  in 
the  room  for  some  seconds  after  La  Mothe  had 
ceased  to  speak. 

The  Commandant  glanced  sharply  about,  as  he 
sank  back  into  his  chair,  and  straightway  I  found 
that  all  in  the  assembly  were  looking  at  me.  For  it 
was  not  the  prisoner  who  had  sighed ;  it  was  I.  His 
sentence  was  just;  but  my  heart  smote  me  that  a 
man  so  young  and  gallant  should  meet  so  ignomin- 
ious a  fate. 

By  a  lordly  wave  of  his  hand,  Cadillac  motioned 
to  Jean  Joly  to  remove  the  prisoner. 

Ere  the  sergeant  took  a  step  forward,  however, 
there  was  a  commotion  in  the  passage  without,  as  of 
a  woman's  voice  disputing  with  the  guards  and 
appealing  to  them. 


302     A   DAUGHTER   OF   NEW    FRANCE 

The  next  moment  the  door  of  the  room  burst 
open,  revealing  a  picture  that  caused  every  man  of 
the  assembly  to  start  with  astonishment.  Ay,  even 
the  demeanor  of  Monsieur  de  Cadillac  grew  less 
composed,  although  this  was  scarce  perceptible  to 
any  but  myself,  who  knew  him  so  well ;  while  the 
Englishman,  who  had  not  blanched  at  his  sentence, 
now  changed  color  and  drew  his  hand  across  his 
brow  in  a  confused  manner. 


CHAPTER  TWENTY-SECOND 

THE  LION  BEARDED 

IN  the  doorway  stood  none  other  than  Miladi 
Barbe,  richly  attired,  as  she  ever  was  in  the 
evening  and  at  dinner,  for  the  ladies  at  Fort  Pontchar- 
train  affected  much  of  state  and  ceremony,  in  order 
to  keep  up  the  prestige  of  the  post  and  the  seigneury 
with  the  soldiery  and  settlers.  Moreover,  I  have 
ever  noted  that  when  a  woman  has  silken  gowns  and 
costly  ornaments  she  will  make  occasion  to  display 
them. 

Yet  the  Lady  of  Chateau guay  thought  not  of 
the  impression  she  created  as,  a  vision  of  life,  youth, 
and  beauty,  she  confronted  the  tomblike  silence  of  the 
room  with  its  weird  shadows,  its  flickering  torches, 
and  the  stern  faces  of  the  circle  of  men  who  sur- 
rounded the  condemned. 

She  had  thrown  back  the  hood  of  the  long  cloak 
of  camlet  cloth  which  she  had  plainly  donned  in 
great  haste ;  and  the  cloak,  fallen  open,  now  slipped 
to  the  ground.  Her  gown  was  one  whereof  I  had 
often  taken  note,  —  a  red  and  dove-colored  damask 
flowered  in  large  trees.  Her  hair  was  all  in  sweet 
disorder,  and  although  still  held  partly  in  place  by  a 
jewelled  dagger,  had  slipped  low  upon  her  shoulders, 
as  if  she  had  dragged  it  down  in  the  frenzy  of  a  great 
excitement.  Her  face  was  suffused  with  a  delicate 
flush,  like  to  the  pink  bloom  of  the  eglantine;  tears 
sparkled  in  her  eyes,  and  her  white  hands  clutched 


304     A   DAUGHTER   OF   NEW  FRANCE 

so  nervously  at  the  lace  upon  her  bodice  and  the 
sprays  of  golden-rod  she  wore  against  her  neck,  that 
she  heedlessly  tore  to  shreds  the  fairy  gossamer,  as 
though  it  oppressed  her  breathing,  and  wantonly 
crushed  the  yellow  flowers. 

"  I  crave  your  pardon,  Monsieur  de  Cadillac,  and 
that  of  all  these  gentlemen,"  she  gasped,  glancing 
from  one  to  another  of  the  tribunal  in  graceful  and 
pathetic  entreaty.  "  I  know  not  what  breach  of  the 
law  I  commit  by  intruding  here,  nor  what  may  be  the 
penalty.  Nevertheless  listen  to  me.  Messieurs,  I 
am  a  Bostonnaise.  It  came  to  my  ears  that  a  Boston- 
nais  prisoner  had  been  brought  in  with  the  cap- 
tive Iroquois ;  that  he  is  like  to  be  condemned  to 
death  as  a  spy.  Monsieur  de  Cadillac,  I  come  to 
intercede  for  my  countryman  !  Monsieur  de  Cadillac, 
I  beg  you  to  have  mercy !  " 

Therewith  she  stretched  out  her  hands  to  him 
most  piteously. 

The  brows  of  La  Mothe  contracted  with  mental 
pain,  but  he  made  her  no  answer,  and  his  visage 
grew  harder  than  before. 

In  desperation  she  glanced  along  the  line  of  faces 
before  her,  as  if  seeking  an  ally.  A  moment  her 
gaze  rested  upon  me,  then  it  travelled  to  the  prisoner, 
to  whose  personality  she  now  for  the  first  time  gave 
heed,  so  eager  had  she  been  to  plead  his  cause. 

The  beautiful  eyes  of  Miladi  Barbe  shone  with 
sympathy  as  she  turned  them  upon  the  Bostonnais. 
All  at  once,  however,  she  recoiled  in  bewilderment, 
clasped  her  trembling  hands  upon  her  breast,  and 
uttered  a  low  cry  of  astonishment. 

The  officer  condemned  to  die  at  sunrise  was  he 
who  at  Quebec  had  come  to  demand  of  my  uncle 
Guyon  that  Barbe  be  suffered  to  go  to  her  own 


THE   LION   BEARDED  305 

people;  the  officer  who  had  maintained  the  same 
demand  at  the  Chateau  of  St.  Louis ;  the  officer  who, 
as  the  envoy  of  Sir  Phipps,  had  bearded  Comte  Fron- 
tenac  in  his  own  council  hall,  and  undauntedly  de- 
livered his  haughty  message  at  the  peril  of  his  life. 

Now,  as  the  gaze  of  the  gallant  soldier  met  that  of 
the  Lady  of  Chateauguay  in  mutual  recognition,  her 
face  assumed  an  expression  of  horror,  but  his  cleared ; 
he  held  his  head  higher,  as  if  proudly  triumphant 
rather  than  crushed  by  defeat,  while  he  so  far  forgot 
his  situation  as  even  to  smile  into  those  anxious 
eyes,  as  if  forsooth  't  was  she  who  had  need  of  cheer, 
and  not  himself.  Whether  those  eloquent  glances 
rekindled  in  the  heart  of  each  a  flame  awakened 
long  ago,  or  whether  the  fact  that  the  prisoner  was 
not  to  her  a  stranger  reinforced  her  courage,  I 
could  not  determine.  Again  she  turned  to  Cadillac, 
to  renew  her  plea. 

He  raised  a  hand  in  warning. 

44  Madame  de  Chateauguay,  this  is  unprecedented," 
he  said  sternly ;  "  I  beg  of  you  to  retire.  This  is  a 
tribunal  of  justice,  not  a  mercy-seat  It  is  not  meet 
that  ladies,  however  fair,  should  interrupt  the  delib- 
erations of  a  military  court." 

''For  my  audacity  I  again  crave  your  pardon," 
she  answered  with  a  dignified  humility.  "  As  I  have 
said,  I  am  a  Bostonnaise,  and  I  pray  you  to  grant  me 
the  life  of  this  officer,  who  indeed  is  not  unknown 
to  me." 

As  these  last  words  fell  from  her  lips,  the  counte- 
nance of  La  Mothe  changed,  and  he  shot  at  her  a 
look  of  suspicion  and  inquiry. 

"What,  the  daughter  of  Francois  Guyon,  the 
daughter-in-law  of  De  Longueil,  the  widow  of  a  gal- 
lant Le  Moyne  who  died  fighting  the  English !  —  that 


3o6     A   DAUGHTER   OF   NEW   FRANCE 

this  lady  should  openly  declare  herself  to  be  a 
Bostonnaise,  is  astounding  truly,"  he  said  with  great 
severity,  "  and  it  is  scarce  like  to  serve  the  man  for 
whom  she  stoops  to  plead.  That  the  Lady  of  Cha- 
teauguay  knows  aught  of  the  prisoner  I  cannot  credit, 
since  to  do  so  would  imply  that  she  is  in  league  with 
our  enemies." 

He  looked  from  one  to  another  of  his  subordinates, 
as  though  asking  their  assent  to  his  words,  and  they 
bowed  their  heads.  Verily  they  had  been  over- 
whelmed with  surprise,  for  so  generally  was  Barbe 
known  as  the  daughter  of  Francois  Guyon  and  his 
wife  Marguerite  Marsolet,  that  few  there  were  in 
Quebec  who  remembered  she  was  their  child  but 
by  adoption ;  while  the  family  of  De  Longueil  was 
so  identified  with  the  fame  and  glories  of  New  France 
none  thought  to  find  among  them  one  of  alien 
race. 

From  the  faces  of  the  company  whereon  were 
plainly  written  blank  astonishment  and  incredulity,  I 
turned  to  regard  the  prisoner. 

Once  more  he  smiled,  though  the  sword  of  fate  was 
already  raised  to  cut  him  off  in  his  strong  manhood 
and  he  stood  weaponless,  without  power  or  oppor- 
tunity to  parry  the  blow.  Ah,  that  confident,  quiet 
smile !  'T  was  as  if  he  would  have  said,  "  I  declared 
of  old  that  the  lady  was  English  at  heart,  now  does 
she  not  prove  the  truth  of  my  words?  " 

Oh,  these  English,  so  proud  that  here  even  in  the 
face  of  death  this  officer  found  satisfaction  in  the 
fulfilment  of  his  supercilious  assumption  on  a  day 
of  years  agone  in  Quebec.  These  Bostonnais,  so 
persistent,  yet  withal  so  loyal  and  true ! 

The  Lady  of  Chateauguay  struggled  to  control 
her  emotion.  She  had,  alas,  chosen  her  words  in  a 


THE   LION   BEARDED  307 

manner  calculated  to  injure  the  prisoner,  had  not 
his  cause  been  already  hopeless.  But  only  for  a 
moment  was  she  disconcerted.  Raising  her  head 
with  a  gentle  dignity  worthy  of  the  lovely  La  Mainte- 
non  herself,  she  said, — 

"  Monsieur  de  Cadillac,  it  is  well  known  to  you 
that  from  my  childhood  I  have  loved  New  France, 
its  people  and  its  lilies,  with  all  my  heart;  from 
my  marriage  I  have  honored  and  kept  unsullied  the 
name  of  Le  Moyne  of  Chateauguay.  Never  until  the 
exchange  of  the  English  prisoners  at  Quebec  did  I 
realize  that  I  was  not  born  a  subject  of  the  Sun 
King.  That  day,  an  English  officer  sought  me  out, 
and  offered  me,  in  the  name  of  Sir  William  Phipps, 
the  chaperonage  of  an  estimable  lady  and  safe  con- 
duct to  my  native  land.  He  was  eloquent  and  most 
kind,  but  I  laughed  at  him.  I  told  him  my  country 
was  New  France;  that  beneath  the  banner  of  the 
fleur-de-lis  I  would  live  and  die.  Still  he  persisted, 
saying  he  would  lay  the  matter  before  the  Governor. 
He  undertook  to  compel  me  to  go  against  my  will, 
and  this  was  more  than  I  could  brook  with  patience. 
I  too  went  to  Comte  Frontenac,  who  assured  me  of 
his  protection,  and  added,  half  in  jest  but  with  some- 
thing of  earnestness,  that  if  I  would  prove  myself 
a  daughter  of  New  France  I  must  needs  take  a 
husband  in  Quebec;  thus  none  but  the  French 
could  ever  claim  me.  Therewith,  gladly  and  not  in 
jest,  I  promised  to  follow  the  admonition  of  Mon- 
sieur le  Comte,  and  the  Bostonnais  officer  was  dis- 
missed with  idle  ceremony.  When  making  his  adieux 
to  me,  he  said  in  all  courtesy — well  I  remember  the 
words  — 

Miladi  Barbe  paused,  and  the  crimson  glow  of  her 
cheeks  deepened  as  she  glanced,  half  timidly,  at  the 


308     A    DAUGHTER    OF    NEW    FRANCE 

prisoner.  "Yes,  thus  he  said:  'Sweet  mistress,  in 
your  choice  I  wish  you  all  content  and  happiness. 
Nevertheless  a  Bostonnaise  you  are,  and  a  Boston- 
naise  you  will  discover  yourself  to  be  some  day. 
Perchance  the  day  lies  in  the  far  distant  future,  but 
come  it  will.'  Monsieur  de  Cadillac,  messieurs, 
the  envoy  was  this  officer  before  you, — this  officer, 
of  whom  I  have  seen  or  heard  naught  from  that 
hour  until  the  present  I  kept  my  word  given  to 
Monsieur  de  Frontenac;  I  became  the  bride  of  one 
of  the  noblest  scions  of  Quebec ;  I  am  the  widow  of 
a  hero  of  New  France.  When  I  die,  I  wish  to  have 
the  ground  where  I  am  laid  sown  with  fleur-de-lis,  that 
they  may  grow  up  out  of  my  heart.  I  will  not  deny 
that  when  I  became  a  woman  I  would  fain  have 
learned  more  of  my  parentage,  that  a  longing  to  see 
the  country  of  my  birth  has  sometimes  disquieted  me. 
Still,  in  all  things  have  I  been  loyal  to  the  country 
of  my  adoption.  Now  I  ask  of  my  lily-crowned 
mother  the  life  of  this  Bostonnais.  Monsieur  de  Cadil- 
lac, I  implore  you,  as  her  representative,  do  not  deny 
me  this  boon." 

La  Mothe  was  moved  by  this  appeal  and  Miladi 
Barbe's  unconscious  eloquence,  as  I  could  see  by 
the  expression  of  emotion  that  flitted  over  his  fea- 
tures. It  was  quickly  gone,  however,  and  they  be- 
came as  rigid  as  before. 

"  Madame,"  he  began  austerely,  "  what  you  ask  is 
impossible.  Beauty  may  presume  where  even  in- 
trepidity dares  not.  Did  any  one  save  so  fair  a  lady 
thus  interrupt  this  court,  I  should  have  the  offender 
put  in  irons.  Therefore,  madame,  in  all  courtesy  to 
you  as  the  representative  of  one  of  the  most  illus- 
trious families  of  New  France  and  as  the  guest  of 
Madame  Cadillac,  I  again  beg  you  to  retire." 


THE   LION   BEARDED  309 

Pressing  her  hands  together  in  her  distress,  Barbe 
looked  toward  me,  as  if  praying  me  to  add  my  in- 
tercession to  hers.  Freely  would  I  have  done  so 
had  I  not  known  only  too  well  it  would  be  futile. 
Cadillac  was  resolved,  and  naught  could  alter  his 
decision. 

At  this  juncture  the  prisoner  took  a  step  forward 
and  turned  to  the  woman  who  had  so  bravely  cast  to 
the  winds  the  ceremonious  observances  of  our  little 
world  in  her  effort  to  save  him. 

"  Lady,"  he  said  in  a  voice  that  now  trembled 
slightly,  albeit  he  had  heard  his  sentence  without  fal- 
tering, — "  Lady,  I  beseech  you  plead  no  more  for 
me;  your  anxiety,  and  it  alone,  unmans  me.  A 
soldier  does  not  fear  death;  in  seasons  of  war  he 
sometimes  faces  it  daily.  An  officer  of  New  Eng- 
land, I  took  my  life  in  my  hands  when  I  came  into 
this  wilderness.  Dying  heroes  have  told  us  it  is 
sweet  to  die  for  one's  country,  and  I  regret  not  that  I 
am  to  taste  of  this  sweetness.  Ah,  lady,  were  the 
cup  as  bitter  as  wormwood,  it  would  become  as  nec- 
tar by  virtue  of  the  words  you  have  spoken  in  my 
behalf.  Did  I  say  your  prayers  and  tears  unnerve 
me?  Yes,  because  they  stir  the  deepest  feelings  of 
my  heart;  and  I  reproach  myself  that  unwittingly  I 
have  crossed  the  path  of  your  life  again,  to  give  you 
even  a  moment  of  unselfish  sadness.  But  for  myself, 
ah,  sweet  mistress,  your  sympathy,  your  gentle  in- 
terest, are  as  wine  for  the  gods.  Were  I  faint-hearted 
as  the  veriest  craven,  they  would  fill  me  with  cour- 
age ;  with  so  fair  a  hand  to  buckle  on  the  armor  of 
my  valor,  I  would  be  coward  indeed,  did  I  not  con- 
front fate  boldly.  From  the  day  long  since  in 
Quebec,  when  you  answered  me  with  the  grace  of  a 
demoiselle  of  New  France,  the  spirit  of  an  English 


3io     A    DAUGHTER   OF   NEW   FRANCE 

maid,  your  image  has  been  ever  in  my  heart ;  you 
and  you  alone  have  reigned  therein  from  that  day  to 
the  present.  Madame,  I  thank  and  bless  you  !  What 
greater  boon  could  a  soldier  ask  than  to  die  for  his 
country,  yet  to  have  as  his  advocate  the  fair  lady  of 
his  heart's  devotion?  Accept  my  gratitude.  All  I 
request  further  is  that  you  will  forget  the  ignoble 
manner  of  my  death  and  —  that  you  will  remember 
me  as  your  countryman." 

Barbe's  gaze,  which  had  been  riveted  upon  the 
countenance  of  the  Bostonnais,  now  swept  the  circle 
of  the  darker  faces  of  the  French  officers  in  agonized 
distress. 

"The  ignoble  manner  of  his  death,"  she  repeated 
in  a  dazed  fashion,  as  if  but  half  comprehending,  and 
forgetting  the  awkwardness  of  his  strange  avowal  of 
love  in  the  shock  which  appalled  her. 

"The  Bostonnais  officer  is  already  sentenced? 
And  to  be  — 

Her  lips  refused  to  frame  the  word,  but  again  her 
trembling  hands  clutched  at  the  lace  of  the  fichu 
about  her  throat,  and  tore  away  the  flowers  that 
rested  against  the  pure  whiteness  of  her  neck. 

"  My  God,  Monsieur  de  Cadillac,"  she  broke  out 
in  desperation,  "have  you  no  mercy?  Will  naught 
move  you?  Is  New  France  so  niggardly  that  she 
will  grant  nothing  to  her  daughters?  Am  I  to  find 
her,  after  all,  but  a  cold  foster-mother,  who  denies  a 
mother's  love  to  the  stranger  child  at  her  hearth?  If 
this  be  so  —  Oh,  friends,  my  father,  my  own  father, 
was  mayhap,  I  have  been  told,  an  English  officer 
such  as  is  this  gentleman.  You  bid  me  cease  to 
plead,  but  can  I  be  silent  while  one  who  is  as  of 
my  kindred  rests  under  sentence  of  a  shameful 
death?" 


THE   LION   BEARDED  311 

La  Mothe  slowly  rose  to  his  feet. 

"  My  Lady  de  Chateauguay,"  he  said  with  deliber- 
ation, "  your  eloquence  and  perseverance  do  you 
honor ;  nevertheless,  tempt  not  my  patience  further. 
It  is  impossible  for  me  to  grant  your  request  and  let 
this  prisoner  go  free,  or  even  to  keep  him  in  duress. 
He  is  a.  convicted  spy,  and  as  such  has  forfeited  the 
right  to  clemency.  As  a  warning  to  the  English,  he 
must  pay  the  penalty  of  his  temerity.  The  present 
safety,  the  future  existence  of  Fort  Pontchartrain  may 
depend  upon  stringent  measures  now.  Still,  to  prove 
to  you  that  New  France  is  not  heedless  of  the  prayer 
of  a  daughter,  even  a  foster-daughter,"  he  added  with 
unnecessary  sarcasm,  "  I  will  alter  the  sentence  in  so 
far  as  to  accede  to  the  request  of  Monsieur  le  Boston- 
nais.  Monsieur,  your  petition  is  granted,  you  shall 
die  like  a  gentleman  and  a  soldier." 

At  these  words  of  the  Commandant,  a  light  almost 
of  joy  shone  upon  the  face  of  the  Englishman,  and 
he  bowed  to  his  judge  with  a  courtesy  which  I  have 
never  seen  surpassed. 

But  Barbe !  —  dear  Barbe  saw  not  that  she  had 
won  for  her  countryman  the  one  favor  he  craved,  and 
had  removed  from  his  fate  its  ignominy.  For  Miladi 
Barbe  swayed  blindly  and  would  have  fallen  but 
that  I  sprang  forward  and  caught  her  in  my  arms. 
She  had  fainted. 

On  the  instant  La  Mothe  signalled  Jolicceur  to 
remove  the  prisoner.  Ere  they  passed  out,  however, 
the  Bostonnais,  without  let  or  hindrance,  strode  across 
the  room  to  the  rude  bench  covered  with  a  wolf's 
skin,  whereon  I  had  laid  my  lovely  burden ;  I  being 
now  engaged  in  chafing  her  limp  hands. 

Kneeling  upon  one  knee,  he  bent  his  head  and 
kissed  the  hem  of  her  robe.  Then  espying  upon  the 


3i2     A   DAUGHTER   OF    NEW    FRANCE 

floor  a  spray  of  the  golden-rod  she  had  torn  away 
from  her  bodice,  he  eagerly  caught  it  up,  pressed  it 
also  to  his  lips,  and  thrust  it  into  the  breast  of  his 
coat. 

The  next   moment  he  suffered  himself  to  be  led 
away  by  Jolicoeur. 


CHAPTER   TWENTY-THIRD 

TO  BE   SHOT  AT  SUNRISE 

'  |  AO  be  shot  at  sunrise. 

A  It  was  a  fate  tragic  enough,  although  the  Bos- 
tonnais  had  welcomed  it  so  gladly  as  a  concession 
from  the  hangman's  noose.  One  so  brave,  and  but 
little  over  thirty  years  of  age,  was  to  be  shot  as  a  spy 
in  the  wilderness !  Yes,  it  was  a  hard  fate  for  an 
honorable  man  who  had  only  done  his  duty  as  he 
knew  it.  The  consequences  might  indeed  have  been 
disastrous  to  us  had  he  succeeded,  yet,  since  he  had 
failed  —  well,  he  had  gained  but  the  fortune  of  such 
service.  Of  this  I  thought  as  I  sat  alone  in  my  room 
at  the  house  of  Frere  Constantin,  an  hour  after  the 
breaking  up  of  the  court. 

Much  as  I  pitied  the  Englishman,  it  had  cut  me 
to  the  heart  to  hear  Barbe  admit  so  deep  an  interest 
in  him ;  while  at  his  open  avowal  that  she  had  been 
since  the  day  of  long  ago  the  Lady  of  his  Dreams, 
were  it  not  for  his  position,  I  would  fain  have  chal- 
lenged him  by  a  look  to  a  duel  a  1'outrance,  —  a 
challenge  to  be  followed  up  in  a  more  formal  manner 
once  we  were  out  of  the  lady's  presence. 

Still,  I  liked  not  at  all  the  certainty  of  so  soon 
being  rid  of  him,  either. 

He  was  a  prisoner,  sentenced  to  die  at  sunrise. 
Our  good  Recollet  had  gone  to  him  now,  to  offer 
him  such  spiritual  consolation  as  he  would  accept, 
and  presently  I  would  go  and  write  down  any  last 


3H     A    DAUGHTER   OF   NEW   FRANCE 

instructions  he  might  wish  to  give ;  and  if  he  desired 
companionship  during  these  final  hours,  I  would 
remain  with  him  as  long  as  might  be. 

From  these  reflections  I  was  aroused  by  a  sound  as 
of  some  one  beating  with  a  stick  upon  the  pickets 
of  the  palisade  which  surrounded  the  house.  Going 
out,  I  found  at  the  entrance  Jules,  the  little  Pani  slave. 

"  For  you,  Monsieur  Guyon,"  he  said,  as  I  opened 
the  gate ;  and,  thrusting  a  thin  strip  of  birch  bark 
into  my  hand,  he  was  off  again  ere  I  could  question 
him. 

Puzzled,  I  carried  the  strange  little  missive  into  the 
cabin  and  read  it  by  the  light  of  the  hearth-fire. 

"  Be  at  the  beech-tree  in  the  King's  Garden  as 
soon  as  may  be." 

This  I  saw  writ  in  characters  once  to  me  familiar, 
albeit  more  elegant  than  when  I  knew  them.  And 
then  I  held  the  note  nearer  to  the  blaze  and  smiled 
as  I  deciphered  the  signature,  —  a  little  Spanish 
shoe  ! 

"  Miladi !  "  I  exclaimed  under  my  breath,  and 
smiled  again  at  the  recollection  of  a  day  long,  long 
ago,  when  my  uncle  Guyon  had  brought  to  little 
Barbe  the  dainty  footgear  affected  by  the  beauties  of 
Spain  when  they  walk  abroad,  —  little  pattens  or  san- 
dals of  velvet  set  upon  plates  of  gold  which  raise  the 
feet  some  inches  from  the  ground. 

And  the  pretty  child  had  sported  them  upon  the 
beach  of  Beauport,  leaving  the  story  of  her  play  writ 
in  countless  fairy-like  footprints  upon  the  strand. 
Thereat  we  had  together  traced  in  these  footprints 
a  likeness  to  the  characters  I  wrote  in  my  Latin 
themes;  and  afterwards  sometimes  I  had  found  upon 
the  margin  of  my  fairest  and  most  serious  copies, 
slyly  limned  there  by  a  childish  hand,  a  little  shoe 


TO    BE    SHOT   AT   SUNRISE          315 

like  to  this,  with  mayhap  a  few  letters  added  such 
as  these,  "  Barbe,  her  mark." 

Barbe  !  There  was  nothing  untoward  in  her  send- 
ing for  me  at  this  hour  of  nine  in  the  evening,  yet  so 
extraordinary  was  it  that  but  for  this  naive  signature 
I  might  have  suspected  the  ruse  of  an  enemy,  and 
have  hesitated  to  play  the  fool  by  going  alone  to 
obey  the  summons. 

But  the  little  shoe  !  No  one  knew  it  stood  for  the 
name  of  Barbe  but  our  two  selves;  she  had  not  made 
use  of  it  to  call  me  to  her  side  since  her  early  girl- 
hood, yet,  had  she  now  by  it  summoned  me  across 
the  world,  I  should  have  gone,  understanding  that  she 
had  need  of  my  aid.  Perhaps,  indeed,  it  would  be 
but  another  message  from  her  I  should  find  in  the 
King's  Garden. 

By  the  river  under  the  beech-tree  it  was  Miladi 
herself  who  awaited  me,  however,  although,  muffled 
as  she  was  in  her  cloak,  I  did  not  at  first  recognize 
her. 

I  soon  found  that  her  thoughts  were  not  of  me,  nor 
was  this  to  be  at  all  a  lover's  tryst. 

"Normand,  Normand,  I  am  so  thankful  you  have 
come,"  she  whispered  anxiously.  "  Oh,  Normand,  is 
not  this  most  terrible?  He  must  not  die  !  We  must 
save  him  !  " 

"  Save  the  Bostonnais  now !  It  is  impossible  !  " 
I  exclaimed.  "  Cadillac  is  inexorable.  Did  you  not 
exhaust  your  powers  of  pleading  in  vain?" 

"  Yes,  yes.  I  also  besought  Therese  to  plead  with 
him;  and  when  he  returned  to  the  manor  I  prayed 
him  on  my  knees  to  at  least  delay  the  execution  of 
the  sentence.  He  would  not.  Nevertheless  the 
Bostonnais  must  not  die.  Ah,  why  have  I  revealed 
to  you  even  so  much?  But  you,  as  a  clerk,  will,  I 


316     A    DAUGHTER    OF   NEW   FRANCE 

have  learned,  be  permitted  to  go  to  him  shortly  to 
take  down  his  last  wishes.  You,  and  you  alone,  will 
see  him.  All  I  ask  of  you  then  is  to  tell  him  that 
his  rescue  will  be  attempted  ere  morning,  in  order 
that  when  the  moment  comes  he  may  avail  of  it." 

"  All  you  ask  !  "  I  ejaculated,  aghast.  "  Barbe, 
what  you  ask  is  treason !  Do  you  not  know  that  the 
Englishman  has  information  which  would  serve  the 
enemy  well  against  us?" 

"No,  no,  not  treason!"  she  protested.  "You 
must  require  him  to  give  his  assurance  that  he  will 
not  use  against  us  any  information  he  has  acquired; 
that  he  will  not  fight  against  us  at  all  in  this  war. 
Not  even  to  save  him  would  I  commit  treason." 

"  A  woman's  reasoning,"  I  muttered  with  a  sigh ; 
"  but  did  you  not  hear  Monsieur  le  Commandant  say 
it  behooved  him  to  make  an  example  of  this  unfor- 
tunate gentleman?  Moreover,  the  safety  of  the  fort, 
our  possessions  on  Le  Detroit,  may  lie  in  the  balance. 
Would  you  risk  a  hundred  lives  to  save  one,  the  life 
of  an  enemy  of  New  France?  " 

"The  safety  of  Fort  Pontchartrain,  how  can  it  be 
affected  when  the  man  is  required  to  take  oath  that 
he  will  be  as  one  blind  to  what  passed  before  him? 
And  will  the  English  be  greatly  affrighted,  think  you, 
by  the  sacrifice  of  the  life  of  a  free  lance?  Monsieur 
de  Cadillac  may  strike  terror  to  the  hearts  of  the 
Five  Nations  by  his  threats,  but,  ha,  ha,  ha !  he  can 
never  hope  to  make  a  Bostonnais  afraid,"  she  con- 
cluded, with  a  toss  of  her  pretty  head  which  angered 
me,  and  a  laugh  that  was  most  musical  withal. 

"  Barbe,"  I  queried,  turning  upon  her  almost 
brusquely,  "  't  is  a  strange  question,  yet  I  must 
needs  ask  it :  '  What  are  you  now,  French  or 
Bostonnaise?' " 


TO    BE   SHOT    AT   SUNRISE          317 

She  caught  her  breath  with  a  sob  like  an  unhappy 
child. 

"  Mon  Dieu,  Normand,  in  sooth  I  do  not  know," 
she  faltered,  wringing  her  hands.  "  Ever  to  this  hour 
have  I  been  French;  but — but  —  if  the  Bostonnais  is 
shot  at  sunrise,  I  will  go  to  the  English ;  I  will  say  to 
them :  '  The  people  whom  I  have  loved  all  my  life 
have  denied  my  prayer.  I  am  of  your  race ;  I  will 
make  my  home  among  you.'  Yes,  yes,  I  will  pluck 
the  fleurs-de-lis  from  my  heart,  and  trample  them 
under  my  feet." 

"What!  You,  the  widow  of  Chateauguay ! "  I 
exclaimed  hotly. 

At  this  she  fell  to  weeping. 

"  Oh,  Normand,  Normand,  I  am  talking  wildly,  I 
mean  not  what  I  say,"  she  cried,  burying  her  face  in 
her  hands.  "  But  what  —  what  am  I  to  do  ?  " 

I  bent  nearer  to  her.  I  gently  laid  hold  of  her 
jewelled  fingers  and  drew  them  away  from  her  sweet 
eyes  that  still  overflowed  with  tears,  as  I  could  see 
in  the  moonlight. 

"  Barbe,"  I  said  abruptly,  "  you  love  this  Bos- 
tonnais." 

"  No,  no,"  she  answered. 

"  It  must  be  so,"  I  went  on  obstinately,  "  else 
why  this  agony?  Spies  have  been  shot  before  in 
New  France,  yet  you  have  not  grieved  in  this 
fashion." 

"  Oh,  it  was  never  brought  home  to  me  before," 
she  urged. 

"This  is  not  the  reason.  You  love  this  Boston- 
nais," I  repeated.  "  Years  ago  I  feared  it  was  the 
case;  that  as  a  young  demoiselle  at  Quebec  your 
maiden's  fancy  was  caught  by  the  splendor  of  his 
scarlet  coat,  the  gold  lace  of  his  chapeau,  and,  per- 


318     A    DAUGHTER    OF   NEW    FRANCE 

chance,  a  trifle  too  by  his  frank  countenance  and 
soldierly  bearing." 

"  Normand,  Normand,"  she  stammered  between 
her  sobs,  "  you  do  not  understand." 

"  I  understand  only  too  well,"  I  persisted  morosely. 
"You  have  given  your  heart  to  the  Englishman. 
Why  do  you  seek  to  hide  the  truth  from  me  when  it 
is  so  plain?  " 

She  checked  the  womanly  denial  that  again  trem- 
bled upon  her  lips,  and  of  a  sudden,  turning  to  me 
with  nafve  defiance,  said,  as  she  drew  away  the  soft 
hands  she  had  suffered  to  rest  in  mine,  — 

"  Eh  bien,  my  cousin,  if  I  should  acknowledge  to 
you  that  I  have  given  my  heart  to  the  Bostonnais, 
what  would  you  do?" 

"  What  would  I  do,  Barbe?  "  I  echoed  wonderingly. 

"  Ay,  if  I  were  to  tell  you  that  I  love  him?  " 

"  Barbe,  I  believe  I  would  do  anything  rather  than 
see  you  grieve  or  weep,"  I  admitted. 

"  You  would  save  him?  " 

"  If  I  could  in  honor." 

"  Oh,"  she  gasped  in  disappointment,  "  what  is  it 
that  you  men  call  honor?" 

Alack,  alack!  Of  what  folly  is  a  man  often  guilty 
for  the  sake  of  a  woman's  sweet  eyes?  In  the  light 
of  the  moon  Barbe  was  more  lovely,  more  spirituelle, 
than  I  had  ever  beheld  her;  though  in  sooth  every 
time  I  saw  her  I  thought  her  lovelier  than  before.  Her 
fairness  was  not  for  me,  I  knew,  yet  now  verily  her 
beauty  turned  my  head. 

"You  will  save  him,"  she  whispered. 

"  If  you  love  him,  Barbe,"  I  answered,  with  a 
choking  sensation  the  while,  as  if  the  demon  of  jeal- 
ousy had  me  by  the  throat.  "I  \oveyou,  Barbe;  I 
have  loved  you  since  you  were  a  child,  before  you 


TO    BE   SHOT   AT   SUNRISE          319 

knew  the  meaning  of  the  words  '  I  love  you.'  This 
is  indeed  a  death-blow  to  all  my -hopes.  Still,  if 
your  happiness  depends  upon  the  saving  of  the  life 
of  this  Bostonnais,  why  then,  Barbe,  I  will  do  this,  I 
will  do  everything  you  ask,  I  will  cast  all  con- 
sequences to  the  winds,  if  only  I  can  help  you,  if  I 
can  make  you  happy,"  I  cried  recklessly. 

"  No,  you  must  keep  as  clear  of  the  matter  as 
possible,"  she  replied,  veering  about  on  the  instant. 
"  Were  there  any  one  else  to  take  the  message,  I 
would  have  kept  you  in  absolute  ignorance  of  my 
design." 

Then,  in  my  folly,  I  set  myself  to  plead  that  she 
would  intrust  me  with  the  whole  affair;  I  would 
accomplish  her  wish  at  all  hazards,  and  thus  she 
would  do  naught  to  draw  upon  herself  the  wrath 
of  Cadillac. 

"  No,  no,"  she  reiterated ;  "  I  will  tell  you  no  more 
than  must  needs  be." 

"  You  love  the  Bostonnais,"  I  persisted. 

"  Oh,  save  him  !  "  she  said  again.  "  All  I  ask  is  that 
you  will  tell  him  to  seize  upon  the  chance  for  life 
when  it  is  offered  him  to-night." 

And  having  thus  answered  me,  she  sped  homeward 
towards  the  manor. 

After  she  had  left  me,  and  soberer  thoughts  suc- 
ceeded to  the  pained  anger  into  which  her  admission 
of  her  love  for  the  Englishman  had  put  me,  I  came  to 
my  senses. 

Already  I  had  made  more  than  one  effort  to 
succor  the  Bostonnais.  I  had  sought  my  brother  and 
begged  his  clemency;  I  had  easily  prevailed  upon 
Frere  Constantin  to  do  the  same.  But  the  Com- 
mandant remained  obdurate. 

Now  what  had  I  promised?     To  become  a  party 


320     A    DAUGHTER    OF   NEW   FRANCE 

to  the  escape  of  a  condemned  spy!  No,  I  would 
not  do  it.  What  was  this  Englishman  to  me  that  I 
should  jeopardize  my  honor  for  his  sake?  A  rival 
who  years  ago,  in  a  chance  half-hour,  gained  the  love 
of  a  little  demoiselle  just  budding  into  womanhood, 
and  then  went  away  to  dream  idly  of  her,  while  I 
remained,  to  strive  long  and  in  vain  for  her  favor. 
Yes,  from  the  first  she  had  loved  the  Bostonnais.  The 
marriage  with  Chateauguay,  arranged  by  my  aunt 
Guyon,  had  been  only  a  dream,  and  the  Bostonnais 
remained  the  ideal  of  her  youthful  reveries. 

My  rival !  One  glance  of  those  eyes  blue  as  her 
own  had  to-night  kindled  into  a  flame  the  fire  that 
had  glowed  so  long  in  her  pure  heart,  unsuspected  in 
great  measure  even  by  herself.  What  was  it  to  me 
that  he  had  ventured  into  the  region  of  Le  Detroit, 
and  now  must  expiate  his  gallant  rashness? 

Miladi  would  dim  her  pretty  eyes  with  weeping 
for  him ;  but  it  was  a  fancy,  after  all.  What  did  she 
know  of  the  man,  save  that  he  was  brave  and  a 
gentleman?  And  of  a  verity,  not  knowing  him  at 
all,  how  could  she  really  love  him?  It  was  not  I 
who  had  condemned  him  to  death,  it  was  his  own 
foolhardiness.  But,  once  he  was  out  of  the  way, 
would  not  Miladi's  heart  turn  to  me  at  last? 

"  No,  it  is  not  my  fault  that  the  Englishman  must 
meet  his  fate,"  I  told  myself.  "  To  save  him  I  have 
done  all  I  could  in  honor." 

Howbeit,  as  I  thus  assured  myself,  there  thrilled 
through  me,  like  a  sharp  pain  at  my  heart,  the  words 
Miladi  had  uttered  with  such  pathetic  despair, 
"What  is  it  that  you  men  call  honor?" 

My  position  was  as  if  two  swordsmen  attacked  me 
from  either  side  and  in  parrying  the  thrust  of  the  one  I 
left  myself  defenceless  against  the  blade  of  the  other. 


TO   BE   SHOT   AT  SUNRISE          321 

Two  opposite  courses  were  open  to  me.  If  I  abetted 
in  any  way  the  escape  of  the  prisoner,  it  would  be  a 
breach  of  fidelity  towards  my  brother,  an  abuse  of 
the  confidence  he  reposed  in  me.  But  if  I  failed  to 
keep  my  promise  to  Barbe,  if  I  refused  my  aid  to  the 
Bostonnais,  would  I  not  be  more  culpable  still,  since 
it  was  to  my  advantage  to  be  rid  of  this  rival  who 
stood  between  Miladi  and  me? 

In  keeping  to  the  letter  of  the  code  of  honor  by 
refraining  from  giving  to  him  the  message  that  de- 
liverance was  at  hand,  would  I  not  at  the  same  time 
violate  every  law  of  chivalry  and  act  the  part  of 
a  base  churl?  What  if  I  left  him  to  his  fate  and 
he  should  be  swept  from  my  path ;  what  if  Barbe 
came  to  love  me ;  what  if  some  day  I  should  call  her 
wife  !  With  my  earthly  happiness  thus  crowned,  yet 
would  not  the  spirit  of  this  man  rise  up  before  me ; 
would  it  not  cry  out  against  me,  '  Churl,  thou  hast 
purchased  thy  bliss  at  an  ignoble  price'?  As  one 
drop  of  gall  spoils  a  measure  of  honey,  so  the  knowl- 
edge that  in  this  hour  with  hatred  in  my  heart  I 
had  held  idly  back,  would  embitter  all  my  after  life. 
And  then,  there  was  my  promise  to  Miladi,  given 
under  the  spell  of  her  eyes,  it  is  true,  but  still  a 
promise.  My  brain  was  sadly  confused,  and  I  could 
not  determine  which  course  was  right  or  wrong. 

At  length  one  thought  fixed  my  resolve.  Miladi, 
in  her  feminine  rashness,  had  plotted  I  knew  not 
what ;  this  attempted  rescue  might  fail,  but  it  must 
not  fail  through  me,  because  now  it  was  not  the  life 
of  the  Bostonnais,  nor  yet  mine  that  was  at  stake,  it 
was  the  life  of  Barbe.  Should  aught  mischance  in 
her  scheme,  upon  her  fair  head,  upon  her  generous 
heart  would  fall  the  penalty.  I  hesitated  no  more, 
but  praying  that  the  just  God  would  let  the  right 


322     A   DAUGHTER   OF   NEW   FRANCE 

come  to  pass,  I  took  the  way  to  the  captive  with  my 
inkhorn,  portfolio,  and  quill. 

The  prison  wherein  the  condemned  man  was  to 
spend  this  night,  decreed  to  be  the  last  of  his  exist- 
ence, was  the  blockhouse  over  the  gate  facing  the 
river. 

The  guard  having  previously  been  apprised  of  my 
mission,  admitted  me  without  question,  and  mounting 
the  stairs,  I  passed  also  the  guard  at  the  door  above, 
and  found  myself  in  the  long  low  room  constructed 
as  a  place  of  refuge  for  the  women  and  children  of 
the  fort  in  case  of  an  attack  from  the  savages,  with 
strong  walls  to  keep  out  an  enemy  or  to  shut  one  in, 
as  the  case  might  be. 

The  Bostonnais  was  pacing  the  floor  with  measured 
tread,  as  if  telling  off  the  paces  between  him  and 
eternity.  At  the  sound  of  my  footstep  he  wheeled 
suddenly,  as  if  on  the  alert  against  an  assassin.  Al- 
though his  hours  were  numbered,  he  would  fain  die 
in  the  light  of  day,  with  the  first  rays  of  the  sun 
shining  upon  him,  and  not  be  despatched  quietly  like 
a  dog. 

The  flame  of  the  pine  torch  I  carried  flashing  into 
the  darkness  of  the  loft  blinded  him  for  the  moment, 
but  when  he  saw  that  I  was  his  visitor,  his  face 
lighted  up  with  a  frank  smile  and  he  strode  to  meet 
me,  saying,  — 

"  This  is  kind,  Monsieur  Guyon,  and  right  gladly 
will  I  avail  of  your  offer  of  pen,  ink,  and  paper, 
though,  if  you  will  permit  me,  I  will  myself  write 
down  what  I  have  to  say.  It  is  little  enough.  A 
farewell  to  my  mother,  —  what  grief  comes  to  the 
mother  of  a  son !  —  a  message  to  the  gentle  lady 
whose  tender  heart  was  moved  to  compassionate  my 
fate.  Both,  as  must  needs  be,  I  shall  leave  unsealed, 


TO    BE   SHOT   AT   SUNRISE          323 

that  they  may  be  read  by  whoso  will.  Otherwise 
it  may  be  thought  I  have  writ  other  news  between 
the  lines,  especially  in  the  letter  to  the  south." 

"  It  is  a  necessary  precaution,  monsieur,"  1  an- 
swered, extending  to  him  my  hand,  which  he  grasped 
warmly. 

I  then  gave  to  him  the  writing  materials.  Sitting 
down  upon  the  bench  which  ran  along  the  sides  of  the 
blockhouse,  he  rested  the  portfolio  upon  his  knee,  and 
at  once  began  to  indite  a  letter,  while  I  thrust  the 
torch  into  a  socket  upon  the  wall. 

"  It  was  before  Quebec  I  first  saw  service.  T  is  a 
strange  fate  that  after  the  lapse  of  half-score  years  I 
should  find  a  grave  in  a  land  over  which  floats  the 
fleur-de-lis,"  he  said  presently,  looking  up  from  the 
paper  whereon  he  had  been  writing  with  as  steady  a 
hand  as  though  he  were  bidding  his  loved  ones  to  his 
marriage  feast. 

"Ay,  monsieur;  war  makes  strange  companions 
and  allotments,"  I  replied  absently,  for  I  was  casting 
about  in  my  mind  as  to  how  I  should  fulfil  my 
promise  to  Barbe  without  creating  in  his  mind  too 
great  a  revulsion  of  feeling. 

Ere  many  minutes  he  had  finished  the  letter.  A 
soldier's  missive  is  apt  to  be  brief.  Moreover,  these 
Bostonnais  linger  not  over  their  adieux,  even  though 
they  be  for  all  time. 

Before  I  had  decided  how  to  frame  my  speech  he 
had  taken  up  another  length  of  the  fair  white  paper  I 
had  brought  to  receive  his  last  testament. 

"  May  I  ask  how  the  lady  is  called?"  he  inquired 
with  uplifted  pen. 

"  Madame  de  Chateauguay,"  I  replied  tersely. 

"  Ah  !  I  knew  not  that  she  was  married,"  he  sighed, 
throwing  down  the  quill.  "  And  yet,  an  arrant  dolt  I 


324     A   DAUGHTER   OF   NEW   FRANCE 

was  to  suppose  otherwise,  since  one  so  lovely  must  of 
a  surety  have  attracted  many  eligible  suitors." 

"  She  is  the  widow  of  the  noble  Henri  le  Moyne, 
who  was  killed  by  the  English  or  their  allies  the 
Iroquois  some  years  since." 

He  sighed  again,  took  up  the  pen,  bit  at  its  feather 
in  indecision,  and  after  a  few  moments  of  reflection 
continued,  — 

"  At  least  it  is  only  becoming  that  I  should  express  to 
her  my  gratitude  for  her  noble  pleading  of  my  cause." 

"  You  have  already  done  so,  monsieur;  however,  if 
you  wish  to  send  her  a  message,  I  will  pledge  you  my 
word  that  she  shall  have  it  —  "  I  stopped  short. 

"  Yes,  after  all  is  over,"  he  said,  thinking  I  was 
unwilling  to  refer  to  what  was  to  take  place  at  the 
rising  of  the  sun.  "  When  all  is  over !  I  pray  the 
gentle  lady's  slumber  may  be  deep  in  the  early  hours 
of  to-morrow  morning.  I  would  not  wish  their  peace- 
fulness  disturbed.  Perchance,  after  all,  the  first  sen- 
tence had  been  best." 

There  was  something  weird,  to  my  thinking,  in  the 
calm  manner  wherewith  he  spoke  of  his  approaching 
end,  his  sole  anxiety  being,  seemingly,  to  shut  out 
from  the  pretty  ears  of  the  Lady  of  Chateauguay  the 
report  of  the  volley  of  musketry  that  would  bring 
him  death. 

"  Your  Frere  Constantin  has  been  here,"  he  said  in 
digression;  "I  am  of  a  harsher  creed  than  yours. 
But  when  these  present  matters  are  completed,  and  I 
am  again  alone,  I  will  do  as  he  counselled  me,  and  turn 
my  thoughts  from  the  things  of  earth.  Recalling  the 
lessons  my  conscientious  Puritan  mother  taught  me 
in  my  early  boyhood,  I  will  prepare  to  meet  my  God." 

"  Madame  de  Chateauguay,"  he  continued,  going 
back  to  his  writing — "what  a  gracious  act  it  was,  thus 


TO    BE   SHOT    AT   SUNRISE          325 

to  make  the  cause  of  an  unknown  soldier  her  own ! 
This  letter  will  disclose  to  her  the  name  and  lineage 
of  the  officer  whom  she  strove  to  save  from  an  in- 
glorious fate.  Yet  destiny,  or  providence  if  you  will, 
has  decreed  otherwise." 

"  Do  not  abandon  all  hope,"  I  broke  in  abruptly. 
"The  lady  has  not  abated  her  interest;  she  is  still 
minded  to  save  you." 

"  What  say  you  ?  "  he  exclaimed,  springing  to  his 
feet.  "  Oh,  beg  her  to  desist !  In  her  impetuosity 
in  my  behalf  she  will  incur  some  fatal  risk  to  herself. 
Say  to  her  that  I  will  not  accept  the  aid  which  would 
compromise  her  and  perchance  imperil  her  life.  Tell 
her  it  is  an  imputation  upon  my  honor,  since  it  seems 
she  would  assume  that  I  fear  death.  Tell  her  a  sol- 
dier would  rather  die  when  his  heart  beats  high,  his 
frame  is  stalwart,  his  grasp  still  strong,  than  live  on 
to  be  mayhap  set  aside  as  too  old  to  lead  a  command, 
to  see  the  sword  he  loves  so  well  drop  from  his  pal- 
sied hand." 

"  Monsieur,  I  shall  not  see  her  again  to-night,"  I 
said,  "  nor  am  I  a  party  to  her  plan,  save  only  that  I 
pledged  myself  to  deliver  to  you  this  message.  That 
her  attempt  may  fail  is  very  like ;  therefore  let  not 
my  words  send  back  with  too  great  a  gladness  the 
life  blood  through  your  veins.  A  brave  man  fears 
not  death,  yet  the  love  of  life  is  strong  to  the  last  in 
the  nature  of  the  most  valiant.  This  only  I  will  say, 
if  the  chance  to  escape  is  offered  you  and  you  let  it 
pass,  you  are  sure  to  bring  great  peril  to  the  lady." 

He  hesitated,  now  for  the  first  time  undecided.  "  I 
will  remember  your  counsel,"  he  said  at  last.  "  Come 
what  may,  I  will  now  write  her  my  farewell ;  —  it  is 
also,  I  may  almost  say,  my  greeting." 

Forthwith  he  sat  down  again  and  penned  a  few 


326     A    DAUGHTER    OF    NEW    FRANCE 

lines  which  he  handed  me  together  with  the  letter  to 
his  mother,  to  be  forwarded  upon  such  occasion  as 
might  come  in  the  future,  after  the  missive  should  be, 
as  he  knew,  carefully  scanned  by  the  Commandant. 
"  Madame  de  Chateauguay !  It  is  true,  sir,  what  I 
avowed  so  inopportunely  some  hours  since,"  pro- 
ceeded the  Englishman,  who  was  become  restless 
since  my  communication.  "Ever  since  the  day  at 
Quebec  when  I  first  beheld  this  lady,  a  fair  young 
maiden  scarce  more  than  a  child,  she  has  seemed  my 
ideal  of  womanly  loveliness,  purity,  and  truth.  Could 
I  but  venture  to  imagine  that  her  gentle  compassion 
sprang  from  even  a  passing  interest  in  myself,  did  I 
but  dare  to  think  that  the  passionate  love  which  burns 
in  my  heart  finds  even  a  transient  reflection  in  hers, 
I  should  die  happy.  Die,  I  say,  for  I  see  not  how 
her  plan  can  succeed." 

"  A  young  maid's  fancy  is  sometimes  lightly 
caught,  monsieur,  and  the  lady  has  given  you  no 
small  proof  of  her  interest,"  I  rejoined  savagely. 
"  Moreover,  her  marriage  was  arranged  by  her  foster- 
mother,  Madame  Guyon." 

"  She  calls  me  Bostonnais,"  he  went  on  musingly, 
"  and  such  indeed  I  am.  Never  have  I  beheld  the 
land  beyond  the  seas.  The  New  World  is  the  world 
I  love ;  its  spirit  is  my  spirit.  Ah,  to  woo  and  win 
this  fair  lady  for  my  wife ;  to  take  her  to  the  Tri- 
mountain  city  where  I  was  born ;  to  sail  with  her 
along  the  rocky  coast  where  her  forefathers  and  mine 
stepped  ashore,  after  having  crossed  the  ocean  to 
escape  from  tyranny  and  injustice.  Ah,  to  do  this  it 
would  indeed  be  worth  while  to  snatch  again  at  the 
life  that  is  so  fast  ebbing  away  from  me  !  " 

"  Monsieur,  if  a  man  finds  his  prison  door  un- 
locked, his  gaoler  negligent,  he  is  a  fool  if  he  does 


TO    BE   SHOT   AT   SUNRISE          327 

not  walk  out ;  if  good  fortune  waits  without  to  lead 
him  on,  he  is  a  fool  if  he  does  not  accept  her 
guidance.  As  for  your  dream  castle,  builded  upon 
the  verge  of  a  precipice,  I  will  remind  you  that  the 
Lady  of  Chateauguay  has  suitors  here  in  New  France 
with  whom  you  may  have  to  reckon  ere  you  can  wed 
and  take  her  away  to  your  southern  home." 

The  bitterness  in  my  voice  betrayed  me.  "  You 
love  her,  too?"  he  cried,  starting  up  and  peer- 
ing into  my  face.  "  You  love  her,  yet  you  do  not 
deny  that  I  may  have  awakened  an  interest  in  her 
gentle  heart !  You  risk  discredit  in  the  eyes  of  your 
Commandant  to  hold  out  a  hope  of  rescue  to  me,  a 
rival !  "  he  exclaimed. 

"  Monsieur,"  I  replied  with  dignity,  "  if  it  happens 
that  you  regain  your  liberty,  if  in  time  of  peace  you 
return  to  New  France  to  seek  the  favor  of  this  lady, 
it  may  be  I  shall  have  occasion  to  challenge  you  to  a 
duel  to  the  death.  At  present,  it  is  because  you  are 
my  rival  that  I  feel  your  claim  upon  my  honor  is 
above  every  other." 

For  a  moment  he  stared  at  me  in  silence. 

"  Monsieur  Guyon,  you  are  a  noble  gentleman," 
he  said  at  length.  "  It  is  like  enough  you  will  not  find 
me  in  your  path  after  sunrise  to-morrow.  But  if  I 
am  to  live,  I  pray  that  I  may  not  be  outdone  in  gen- 
erosity. It  is,  after  all,  the  lady  herself  who  will 
choose  her  husband,  if  she  be  inclined  to  take  one. 
And  if  we  must  needs  be  rivals,  at  least  there  will 
be  fair  play  between  us." 

"  Good-night,  monsieur,"  I  said ;  and  to  my  ears 
the  words  sounded  truly  a  sad  mockery.  Yet  how 
important  was  it,  either  for  an  escape  into  the  wilder- 
ness or  a  journey  to  the  next  world,  that  the  hours 
should  deal  well  with  him !  "  Good-night !  It  was  in 


328     A    DAUGHTER   OF   NEW   FRANCE 

my  mind  to  stay  with  you  if  so  you  would  have  me, 
but  now  perchance  it  would  serve  you  better  for  me 
to  go." 

"  Good-night,"  he  responded;  "remember,  to  your 
hand  I  commit  the  letters.  You  will  see  by  the 
superscription  how  that  to  my  mother  is  to  be  sent. 
Farewell !  or —  I  like  your  fine  French  word  —  adieu  ! 
A  Dieu  !  " 

It  was  now  not  far  from  twelve  of  the  clock.  The 
town  was  asleep,  but  as  I  approached  the  eastern 
gate  I  saw  a  light  still  in  the  house  of  Frere  Constan- 
tin.  Ah,  well  I  knew  the  meaning  of  that  light.  It 
told  me  that  the  good  Recollet  was  keeping  one  of 
his  austere  vigils ;  that  he  would  spend  the  night  in 
prayer  for  the  stranger  who  had  declined  his  minis- 
trations, the  gallant  Bostonnais  who  was  to  die  at 
sunrise. 

Of  a  sudden  my  resolve  was  taken.  I  would  not 
go  outside  the  fort  again  ere  dawn.  I  would  watch 
near  the  manor,  and  when  Barbe  came  forth  upon  her 
errand  of  succor,  I  would  persuade  her  to  give  it  all 
into  my  charge  or,  this  failing,  I  would  follow  to  pro- 
tect and  defend  her  if  need  should  be. 

But  how  poor  a  match  is  a  man's  dull  brain  against 
a  woman's  wit !  Within  the  shadow  of  the  house  I 
waited.  An  hour  passed ;  another  slipped  away,  and 
still  another.  My  heart  reproached  me  in  that  I  had 
aroused  a  delirious,  vain  hope  of  life  in  the  breast  of 
the  prisoner,  only  to  torture  him  the  more  in  his  last 
moments.  The  first  light  of  dawn  began  to  appear 
in  the  sky  in  the  direction  over  against  which  lay  Mi- 
chilimackinac.  Either  the  plot  or  Miladi's  courage 
had  failed.  Escape  for  the  Englishman  was  now 
impossible. 

Assuming  an  air  as  if  fresh  awakened  for  the  day, 


TO   BE   SHOT   AT   SUNRISE          329 

I  made  my  way  to  the  blockhouse,  hoping  for  a  word 
with  the  prisoner  when  he  should  be  brought  out. 

Everything  there  was  silent.  The  doors  were  se- 
cured ;  the  guards  on  duty. 

Half  an  hour  later  a  posse  of  soldiers  came  for  the 
Bostonnais.  The  moment  was  come;  he  was  to  be 
led  away  and  presently  shot. 

The  doors  were  opened  and  they  called  to  him  to 
step  forth. 

He  did  not  come. 

Pardieu  !  What  a  commotion  and  confusion  there 
was,  then,  what  a  brouhaha  and  excitement,  while  I 
stood  by  as  astounded  as  the  rest.  For  the  prison 
was  empty.  The  Bostonnais  had  disappeared,  and 
not  for  many  a  day  did  we  hear  tale  or  tidings  of 
him. 

How  Miladi  Barbe  compassed  his  escape ;  whether 
he  went  through  the  woods  or  by  the  great  waters, 
east  or  west,  she  has  never  told  me  even  to  this  time 
of  my  writing  (1735).  And  if  I  had  then  my  own 
thoughts  upon  the  subject,  I  kept  them  to  myself. 
After  this  lapse  of  years,  however,  without  peril  to 
her  safety  I  may  freely  set  down  that  in  my  opinion 
the  Lady  of  Chateauguay  was  not  far  from  me  on 
that  evening  when  I  left  the  prison,  and  kept  a 
watch  on  me  so  I  might  not  discover  her ;  that  she 
sent  a  generous  draught  of  eau  de  vie  to  the  guards, 
a  draught  with  which  perchance  was  mingled  a  few 
drops  of  some  harmless  drug  which  yet  induces  sleep. 
During  the  brief  time  wherein  they  nodded  at  their 
post  she  herself  released  the  prisoner,  gave  him 
an  Indian  blanket  wherewith  to  disguise  himself,  and 
brought  him  through  the  water  gate  to  the  strand 
of  the  river.  Either  the  guards  at  the  shore  had  been 
stupefied  by  liquor  too,  or  else  madame,  having  gold 


330     A   DAUGHTER   OF   NEW   FRANCE 

to  cast  away,  had  blinded  them.  Here  she  found  the 
coureur  de  bois  who  had  guided  the  party  of  Madame 
Cadillac  through  the  forest,  and  who,  smitten  by  the 
beauty  of  Miladi,  was  become  her  willing  slave.  To 
the  guidance  of  this  wanderer  Miladi  committed  the 
Bostonnais  officer,  having  required  the  wood-ranger 
to  swear  by  all  he  held  sacred  that  he  would  be  faith- 
ful to  the  trust. 

The  two  men  stepped  into  a  waiting  canoe ;  the 
lady  cut  short  the  thanks  and  protestations  of  devotion 
which  broke  from  her  gallant  countryman,  and 
waved  him  an  adieu  while  the  boat  shot  away  down 
the  strait  in  the  direction  of  the  Lake  of  the  Eries. 

Then  enveloped  in  her  camlet-cloak,  Barbe  stole 
back  through  the  darkness,  and  crouched  among  the 
trees  until  she  saw  me  depart  from  the  manor,  when 
she  re-entered  the  house  by  a  window  which  she  had 
left  unbarred. 

Such  is  my  theory. 

I  will  not  attempt  to  depict  the  rage  of  the  Com- 
mandant when  he  discovered  that  the  Bostonnais  was 
gone.  In  truth,  I  think  the  guards  would  have  paid 
for  their  inebriety  with  their  lives  had  not  Barbe 
boldly  declared  that  she  alone  was  responsible  for 
the  escape  of  the  English  officer. 

Had  she  been  in  any  degree  less  beautiful,  or  had 
she  not  been  the  guest  of  his  wife,  I  believe  my 
brother  would  have  shut  her  up  in  the  blockhouse. 
As  it  was,  she  removed  from  the  manor,  and  took  up 
her  residence  with  the  wife  of  the  Sieur  de  Marsac. 
In  the  spring  by  the  first  convoy  she  returned  to  the 
St.  Lawrence. 

The  guards  suffered  a  term  of  imprisonment,  but 
later,  Madame  de  Chateau guay,  by  presents  to  their 
wives  and  children,  recompensed  them,  I  judge, 


TO    BE   SHOT   AT   SUNRISE          331 

for  whatever  ill  fortune  she  brought  upon  them  that 
night. 

So,  after  avoiding  me  most  pointedly  during  the 
winter,  Barbe,  at  the  breaking  up  of  the  ice,  re- 
turned to  Quebec.  And,  albeit  my  brother  was  still 
angered  against  her,  she  did  him  good  service  there 
at  this  critical  time  in  his  fortunes,  by  reporting 
much  of  his  sagacious  management  of  the  fort,  and 
laughing  to  scorn  the  pretensions  of  the  company's 
commissioners,  while  she  enlightened  many  as  to  the 
manner  in  which  the  three  rogues  had  borne  them- 
selves during  their  stay  at  Le  Detroit,  —  a  revelation 
not  wholly  to  the  taste  of  the  company,  since  "he 
sins  as  much  who  holds  the  bag  as  he  who  puts 
into  it." 


CHAPTER   TWENTY-FOURTH 
IN  THE  RECOLLET'S  GARDEN 

NOTWITHSTANDING  all  our  preparations  for 
i-^l  defence,  happily  the  Iroquois  did  not  come. 
Our  Hurons,  Miamis,  Outawas,  and  Pottawatomies 
went  out  to  the  hunt,  and  coming  back  in  the  spring 
with  their  wealth  of  beaver  pelts  and  the  fine  skins 
of  the  otter,  reported  that  nowhere,  in  their  wander- 
ings through  the  winter,  had  they  crossed  the  trail  of 
their  hereditary  enemies.  Neither  had  they  seen  nor 
heard  aught  of  the  English. 

Taking  advantage  of  the  peacefulness  of  the 
country,  accordingly,  the  Sieur  Cadillac  set  out  for 
Ville  Marie  and  Quebec  to  confront  his  opponents 
of  the  Trading  Company,  after  telling  the  Indians  of 
Le  Detroit  that  he  left  his  wife  and  children  at  Fort 
Pontchartrain,  as  a  proof  of  his  good  will  toward 
them. 

Unfortunately,  however,  the  absence  of  my  brother 
La  Mothe  was  prolonged  beyond  his  expectation. 
Thus  it  came  about  that  he  sent  for  his  family  to 
come  to  him.  At  the  same,  time  a  temporary  com- 
mandant was  appointed  from  Montreal,  a  hot-headed 
young  officer,  of  whom  I  make  mention  only  because 
of  the  happenings  which  his  coming  brought  about. 

This  Monsieur  de  Bourgmont  regarded  the  Indians 
but  as  a  pack  of  hunting  dogs.  The  Chevalier  de 
Cadillac,  having  learned  wisdom  by  experience,  had 
shut  up  all  the  brandy  in  the  cellars  of  his  store- 


IN   THE   RECOLLET'S    GARDEN      333 

houses,  and  -it  could  be  obtained  by  red  men  or 
white  only  -in  small  quantities.  Now,  however,  it 
flowed  freely,  and  the  new  Commandant  spent  much 
of  his  time  in  carousing. 

Upon  the  day  of  his  arrival,  as  I  was  crossing  the 
Place  d'Armes,  I  encountered  De  Tonty. 

"  Pardieu,"  grumbled  the  morose  captain,  "  it 
augurs  not  well  for  Le  Detroit  when  so  quarrelsome 
a  soldier  is  sent  down  to  us." 

This  gruff  comment  was  uttered  in  the  hearing  of 
a  group  of  Outawa  warriors  who  were  come  into 
the  town  to  trade,  Jean  le  Blanc,  Le  Pasant,  and 
others,  yet  I  scarce  noted  its  effect  as  I  continued  on 
my  way  to  the  barracks.  I  was  to  continue  my  duties 
as  secretary  for  the  post.  In  the  course  of  half  an 
hour  the  chiefs  came  thither  to  salute  the  officer,  as 
the  representative  of  the  power  of  the  French. 

14  My  faith,  Monsieur  Guyon,  what  is  this?"  asked 
De  Bourgmont,  with  an  impatience  he  took  no  trouble 
to  conceal. 

44  A  deputation  of  Indian  sachems,  who  are  come 
to  pay  you  a  visit  of  ceremony,  Monsieur  le  Com- 
mandant," I  replied. 

His  ejaculation  thereat  was  more  vigorous  than 
courtly,  for  he  was  in  speech  most  profane.  Filing 
into  the  council  room,  the  warriors  ranged  them- 
selves before  him. 

44  O  chief,"  began  Le  Pasant,  stepping  forward 
and  throwing  back  his  blanket  as  a  token  of  greeting, 
"  since  you  are  come  in  the  name  of  Onontio,  we 
welcome  you  to  Le  Detroit.  Have  you  brought  us 
good  news?  Is  the  heart  of  our  Father  turned  to 
us?  And  Monsieur  de  la  Mothe,  when  will  he 
come  again  to  Fort  Pontchartrain?  " 

De  Bourgmont  had  been  looking  over  the  accounts 


334    A   DAUGHTER   OF   NEW   FRANCE 

of  the  fort.  Angered  at  the  interruption  of  his  occu- 
pation, instead  of  replying  to  the  Indians  with  the 
stateliness  to  which  they  are  accustomed,  he  broke 
out  brusquely,  — 

"  Sacre,  I  am  not  a  wandering  coureur  de  bois  to 
bring  you  news.  There  are  no  commands  for  you 
from  the  Governor.  As  for  the  Sieur  Cadillac,  he  is 
not  like  to  return  before  another  spring,  if  at  all." 

This  response,  and  still  more  the  manner  of  the 
lieutenant,  gave  great  offence  to  his  visitors,  as  I  saw. 
I  did  not  know  until  afterwards,  however,  that  it 
led  them  to  believe  the  displeasure  of  Governor 
Vaudreuil  was  to  be  visited  upon  the  Outawas  for 
the  killing  of  some  Iroquois  allies  of  the  French  at 
Catarocouy,  and  that  for  this  reason  my  brother  De 
La  Mothe  had  summoned  his  wife  and  children  to 
Quebec. 

There  was  already  enmity  between  some  of  the 
savage  villages  of  Le  Detroit,  and  a  short  time  before 
a  band  of  Miamis  had  killed  several  Outawas  while 
they  were  away  on  the  hunt. 

Of  this  state  of  affairs  I  felt  it  my  duty  to  warn  De 
Bourgmont. 

Flattering  himself  that  he  could  easily  right  matters, 
he  assembled  the  Outawas  and  proposed  to  them  that 
they  join  the  Miamis,  Iroquois,  and  Hurons  against 
the  Sioux.  This,  it  seems,  they  regarded  as  a  pre- 
text for  delivering  them  into  the  power  of  their 
enemies.  However,  the  war-dance  was  held,  and  all 
the  warriors  of  Le  Detroit  ostensibly  prepared  to 
take  the  war-path  against  the  Sacs  and  Foxes. 

It  was  a  beautiful  afternoon  of  early  June.  I  had 
gone  to  the  house  of  Monsieur  de  Bourgmont  to 
assist  him  with  some  correspondence. 

The  new  Commandant  had  brought  down  many 


IN   THE   RECOLLET'S   GARDEN 


335 


fine  furnishings  from  the  St.  Lawrence,  and  also  his 
wife,  La  Chenette,  a  bold,  black-eyed  woman,  whom, 
notwithstanding  her  good  looks  and  rich  attire,  the 
ladies  of  the  post  declined  to  visit. 

Madame  de  Bourgmont  was  not  present  on  this 
occasion,  nor  was  she  usually  when  I  went  there; 
and  the  Commandant  and  I  kept  steadily  at  work  on 
the  papers. 

Of  a  sudden,  looking  up,  I  beheld  a  dusky  face 
staring  in  at  the  window.  It  was  gone  as  quickly, 
but  anon  reappeared. 

This  time  De  Bourgmont  saw  it,  too,  and  reached 
for  his  fusee  which  stood  in  the  corner  behind  him. 

I  laughed. 

"  The  owner  of  that  copper-colored  visage  has  no 
sinister  design  in  his  prying,  monsieur,"  I  said.  "  It 
is  only  Techeret,  an  Indian  idler  about  the  town  who 
is  fond  of  peering  in  at  our  domiciles  thus,  for  our 
furnishings  of  civilization  are  ever  a  source  of  curiosity 
and  wonder  to  the  children  of  the  woods." 

Doubtless  there  would  have  been  no  more  of  the 
matter  but  for  a  most  unfortunate  happening. 

A  fine  dog,  belonging  to  the  new  Commandant, 
was  stretched  on  the  gallery  basking  in  the  sunlight. 
The  footstep  of  the  savage  was  noiseless,  but  the 
hound  had  scented  the  stranger  and  now  warned  him 
off  by  a  low  growl. 

Techeret  paid  small  heed  to  the  challenge.  Once 
again  I  caught  sight  of  his  grinning  face  at  the  win- 
dow. The  next  moment  the  dog  must  have  dashed 
around  the  corner  of  the  house  and  sprung  upon  him, 
for  there  was  a  fierce  snarl,  then  the  sound  of  a  blow, 
and  the  wounded  animal  dashed  into  the  room  where 
we  were,  and  crouched  yelping  by  the  chair  of  his 
master. 


336     A   DAUGHTER   OF   NEW   FRANCE 

With  an  oath  the  Commandant  sprang  to  his  feet, 
caught  up  the  fusee,  rushed  out  of  the  door,  and 
seizing  upon  the  Indian,  in  an  ungovernable  fury 
beat  him  about  the  head  with  the  butt  of  the 
musket. 

"  Monsieur  de  Bourgmont,  have  a  care;  if  you  kill 
the  Outawa  you  will  bring  down  upon  the  fort  the 
vengeance  of  the  tribe,"  I  cried,  laying  hold  of  him 
and  exerting  my  strength  to  pull  him  away.  He  was 
a  big,  burly  man,  so  that  the  physical  advantage  was 
greatly  in  his  favor,  and  the  Indian  having  been  un- 
prepared for  the  attack  was  already  stunned  and 
tottering. 

I  clung  to  De  Bourgmont.  In  vain  he  strove 
to  shake  me  off.  He  was  frothing  at  the  mouth 
when  I  disarmed  him  and  thrust  him  back  into  the 
house. 

The  luckless  Techeret  had,  however,  fallen  sense- 
less upon  the  ground. 

By  this  time  all  the  Outawas  in  the  village  had  got 
wind  of  the  trouble,  and  now  gathered  around  their 
brother.  I  called  for  water;  I  tried  to  make  some 
excuse  for  the  Commandant.  "  He  did  not  know  that 
our  dwellings  are  ever  open  to  our  brothers  of  the 
forest,"  I  said ;  "  it  is  not  so  in  Montreal."  I  re- 
minded them  that  Techeret  had  injured  the  dog.  In 
silence  they  bent  over  the  prostrate  redman.  They 
found  him  dead.  They  carried  him  away,  and  were 
still  ominously  silent. 

The  next  day  was  one  of  those  perfect  days  in 
June  when  Nature  is  at  her  loveliest.  Not  a  cloud 
appeared  in  the  sun-lit  heavens ;  a  balmy  wind  came 
sweeping  up  from  the  Lake  of  the  Eries  and  rippled 
the  river,  which  shone  like  pliant  silver.  The  glad 
songs  of  the  robin,  the  oriole,  the  bluebird,  and  the 


IN   THE   RECOLLET'S   GARDEN      337 

meadow-lark  filled  the  air  with  melody.  The  verdant 
banks  of  the  strait,  the  lawns  of  the  King's  Esplanade 
were  far  more  beauteous  in  their  velvety  green  than 
the  carpets  of  Versailles. 

At  the  early-morning  Mass  in  the  church  of  "  the 
good  Ste.  Anne  "  the  choicest  of  the  forest  blossoms 
and  of  the  garden  blooms  of  the  fort  breathed  forth 
their  fragance  before  the  shrine. 

The  little  woodland  sanctuary  seemed  never  to  me 
more  peaceful.  I  missed  indeed  the  clear,  sweet 
voice  of  Barbe,  who  was  wont  to  lead  the  chanting  of 
the  Indian  girls,  and  the  rich  contralto  of  Therese.  I 
missed  the  stately  presence  of  my  brother  Monsieur 
de  Cadillac,  whose  raised  chair  stood  vacant  in  the 
chancel,  for  De  Bourgmont  troubled  not  himself  to 
come  hither.  The  other  officers  were  present,  how- 
ever, and  the  soldiers  also,  it  being  a  matter  of 
discipline. 

There  were  now  a  number  of  ladies  at  the  fort,  for 
some  of  our  young  nobles  had  gone  back  to  Quebec 
for  wives,  and  these  pious  ladies  had  no  need  of  mili- 
tary command  to  enforce  their  attendance  at  the  ser- 
vices in  the  church. 

Present  too  were  a  good  number  of  settlers'  wives, 
and  the  settlers  themselves,  come  to  ask  a  blessing 
upon  their  fields. 

I  saw  as  well  many  dark-hued  faces  among 
the  worshippers,  though  these  belonged  chiefly  to 
squaws,  Indian  girls,  and  children  ;  the  feather-crested 
warriors'  heads  sometimes  seen  about  the  door  or 
thrust  in  at  the  windows,  minding  me  of  the  bas-re- 
liefs of  bronze  I  had  noted  in  the  cathedral  of  Paris, 
being  to-day  absent. 

The  service  was  over,  and  the  good  missionary 
turned  to  pronounce  a  benediction  upon  his  people. 


338     A   DAUGHTER   OF   NEW   FRANCE 

Was  the  gentle  radiance  that  illumined  his  benign 
countenance  a  reflection  of  the  sunlight?  Or  was  it 
rather  as  the  glow  of  a  flame  shining  through  a  lamp 
of  alabaster,  the  shining  forth  of  a  soul  that  has  com- 
muned with  God  ? 

On  this  morning,  at  least,  as  I  looked  upon  him, 
remarking  the  touch  of  time  upon  his  thinning  locks, 
which  I  remembered  as  once  so  dark  and  luxuriant; 
the  lines  wrought  by  care  and  toil,  by  fastings  and 
vigils  upon  his  gaunt  visage,  —  I  bethought  me  that 
the  story  writ  thereon  was  a  record  any  man  might 
reverence  and  envy.  For  what  is  there  in  all  the 
world  so  beautiful  as  the  record  of  a  life  well  lived, 
the  soul  history  of  a  man  who  has  been  faithful  to  his 
noblest  ideals ! 

Homeward  we  went  together,  he  and  I,  to  the 
morning  meal.  How  often  since  have  I  recalled 
every  minute  occurrence  of  that  forenoon !  His  chat 
at  table,  grave  over  the  subject  of  the  Indian  troubles, 
hopeful  as  he  looked  forward  to  the  return  of  Sieur 
Cadillac,  cheery  as  the  sunshine,  the  song  of  birds, 
and  the  music  of  the  river,  the  cheerfulness  of  a  spirit 
whose  tranquil  depths  were  pure  and  sweet  as  the 
clear  waters  of  the  strait. 

After  the  simple  breaking  of  our  fast,  the  cur6, 
taking  his  breviary,  went  out  into  his  garden,  while  I 
remained  indoors  to  indite  a  letter  to  La  Mothe, 
telling  him  that  matters  at  the  fort  were  not  as  he 
would  have  them,  and  urging  him  not  to  remain  away 
a  day  longer  than  must  needs  be.  The  coureur  de 
bois  Sans  Souci  was  to  set  out  for  Montreal  within 
the  week,  and  I  was  minded  to  have  my  missive  ready 
to  send  by  him. 

Having  writ  the  letter,  all  but  the  close,  since  I  would 
fain  leave  it  open  until  the  last  minute,  to  add  the 


IN   THE   RECOLLET'S   GARDEN      339 

latest  news,  I  prepared  to  go  up  to  the  barracks 
and  set  about  my  duties  as  amanuensis  of  the 
Commandant. 

As  I  stepped  into  the  garden,  Frere  Constantin 
was  standing  among  his  flowers,  looking  down  at 
them  as  one  looks  into  the  innocent  faces  of  little 
children,  with  a  tenderness  and  love  for  their  bright- 
ness and  beauty ;  and  talking  to  them  with  the  naive 
simplicity  which  I  have  noted  more  than  once  in  men 
of  high  intellect  and  introspective  nature. 

Anon  some  three  or  four  Indian  boys  put  their 
unshorn  heads  in  at  the  gate  to  peer  at  him.  A  mo- 
ment after,  culling  among  his  floral  treasures  with  a 
reckless  generosity,  he  strode  to  the  opening  in  the 
palisade,  and  put  into  the  hands  of  the  young  red- 
skins the  gaudy  blooms  that  pleased  them  best. 

"Frere  Constantin,  Frere  Constantin,  would  you 
defraud  Ste.  Anne  of  her  flowers?"  I  cried  to  him 
with  a  laugh ;  for  well  I  knew  he  gave  so  much 
pains  to  the  cultivation  of  the  little  parterre  that 
there  might  ever  be  blooms  for  the  decoration  of 
the  church. 

"  I  think  the  good  Ste.  Anne  would  have  done  the 
same  herself;  she  loved  all  children  for  the  Virgin's 
sake,"  he  answered  for  excuse. 

"  But  you  have  even  plucked  the  blossoms  of  the 
'  holy  herb'  (verbena),  the  flowers  you  have  watched 
for  days  in  the  hope  that  they  would  unfold  for  the 
coming  of  the  Sunday." 

"Yes,  yes,"  he  admitted,  nodding  absently.  "  You 
see,  Normand,  the  Indian  children  like  those  scarlet 
blossoms  best." 

"  Frere  Constantin,"  I  said,  shaking  a  finger  at  him 
in  affectionate  raillery,  "  to  pleasure  these  beggarly 
savages  you  have  robbed  the  altar  of  the  Lord." 


340     A   DAUGHTER    OF   NEW   FRANCE 

He  laughed,  as  a  boy  laughs  who  has  been  caught 
in  some  innocent  dilemma.  But  his  discomfiture  was 
of  short  duration. 

"Well,  well,  Normand,  it  may  be  that  I  have,"  he 
avowed  contentedly;  "since  God  grudges  not  His 
bounty,  why  should  we?  We  pray  for  daily  bread, 
but  does  He  not  grant  us  daily  food  for  heart  and  eye 
as  well?  Why  do  the  flowers  fade  so  soon  but  that 
each  day  He  may  send  down  new  beauty  upon  the 
earth?  'T  is  a  law  of  their  growth;  the  more  blooms 
you  cull,  the  more  the  plant  puts  forth.  It  is  only 
when  the  gardener  is  niggardly  and  clings  avari- 
ciously to  his  floral  wealth  that  it  fails  him.  Nature 
is  generous  to  prodigality.  There  is  no  miser  upon 
the  earth  but  man.  If  we  have  not  new  blooms  of  the 
'  holy  herb,'  for  the  Sunday,  there  will  be  fourfold 
the  number  betimes.  The  Lord  will  provide  for  His 
altar.  Have  you  not  noted  in  the  forest  that  where 
one  strong  tree  is  cut  down  another  presently  begins 
to  grow?  Ever  this  will  continue  so  long  as  the 
living  roots  remain  in  the  ground." 

Here  the  good  father  bent  over  a  patch  of  iris. 
"  No  need  to  ask  the  flower  you  fain  would  have  as  a 
favor  for  your  coat,"  he  said,  plucking  and  reaching 
up  to  me  two  or  three  sprays  of  the  delicate  white 
fleur-de-lis. 

"  I  care  to  wear  no  other,"  I  answered,  fastening 
them  over  my  heart,  "  unless  indeed  it  be  a  bit  of 
arbutus  or  a  posie  of  violets." 

"  But  the  arbutus  and  violets  are  gone,"  argued 
Frere  Constantin. 

"  Yes,  they  are  gone,"   I  responded   with  a  sigh. 

My  friend  regarded  me  with  kindly  solicitude ;  he 
knew  that  to  me  the  violets  and  arbutus  meant  only 
Barbe. 


IN   THE    RECOLLET'S   GARDEN      341 

"  For  you  they  will  come  again,  Normand,  be  not 
cast  down,"  he  said  delicately. 

"  They  belong  to  the  south ;  there  is  left  to  me  now 
naught  but  the  iris.  I  will  wear  only  the  fleur-de-lis, 
but  I  will  wear  it  with  pride,"  I  rejoined. 

Frere  Constantin  smiled  and  nodded  to  his  flowers, 
as  if  confiding  to  them  his  gentle  opinion  of  the  un- 
reasonableness of  human  passion.  "  Yes,  yes,  my 
son,  wear  worthily  the  fleur-de-lis,  at  all  hazards,"  he 
counselled ;  "  it  is  a  badge  of  honor,  of  patriotism. 
Yet  in  gilding  the  lily  the  Bourbons  have  too  often 
forgotten  its  whiteness.  Wear  it,  Normand,  as  the 
emblem  of  St.  Louis,  a  knight  without  fear  and 
without  reproach." 

"  I,  too,  love  the  fleurs-de-lis,"  he  continued,  thrust- 
ing a  spray  of  the  graceful  blossoms  into  the  bosom 
of  his  soutane.  "  I  love  them  because  to  me  they  are 
redolent  of  happy  memories  of  New  France  and  of 
the  mother  country  beyond  the  seas.  I  would  fain 
die  with  them  upon  my  breast.  And  then,  they  mind 
me  of  my  own  land  also.  You  know,  the  emblem  of 
La  Bella  Firenze,  of  beautiful  Florence,  is  the  iris, 
too,  —  not  the  pale  fleur-de-lis  we  have  here,  but  the 
stately  crimson  iris  from  the  Levant." 

"  Ah,  Normand,  give  not  your  heart  too  much  to 
vain  regrets,"  he  proceeded  after  a  pause.  "  I,  too, 
was  young  once,  and  the  love  of  life  and  earthly 
happiness  beat  high  in  my  breast."  He  broke  off 
abruptly. 

"  Yes,  my  Father,"  I  cried  with  ardor.  "  Full  well 
I  know  that  in  your  fair  Land  of  Flowers  you  were 
the  heir  of  a  princely  race.  A  young  cavalier  of  bril- 
liant talents,  versed  in  all  the  accomplishments  of 
the  time,  you  were  from  early  boyhood  betrothed 
to  a  beautiful  demoiselle,  the  daughter  of  a  family  as 


342     A    DAUGHTER    OF   NEW    FRANCE 

distinguished  as  your  own,  and  your  future  promised 
to  be  ideally  happy,"  I  went  on,  astonished  at  my 
own  temerity.  "  I  have  heard  how  its  brightness  was 
swept  away  by  the  Black  Death  that  passed  over 
Florence,  changing  its  palaces  into  pest-houses,  its 
laughter  and  gayety  into  lamentations,  and  leaving 
the  city  one  vast  tomb.  How  you  awoke  in  your 
ancestral  home  to  find  that  your  parents  were  fallen 
victims  to  the  plague,  your  betrothed  was  become  the 
bride  of  death.  I  have  been  told  that  in  the  sorrow 
which  threatened  your  reason,  there  arose  before 
you  at  times,  as  through  a  mist,  the  saintly  face  of 
a  venerable  Recollet  monk  who  long  before  had 
charmed  your  boyish  fancy  and  warmed  your  young 
heart  to  enthusiasm  by  a  rehearsal  of  the  wonderful 
experiences  of  the  missionaries  of  St.  Francis  in  the 
wilds  of  New  France.  And  thus  it  came  about  that, 
seeking  solace,  you  knockedj  at  the  gate  of  the  Recol- 
let monastery  on  the  margin  of  the  Arno,  and  were 
admitted  among  the  brethren." 

"  Ay,  and  there  found  peace  and  true  happiness 
in  a  new  and  nobler  life,"  mused  my  good  friend, 
absently.  Then  rousing  himself,  he  added  in  a  dif- 
ferent tone,  "  Chut,  chut,  boy !  I  know  not  who  in 
the  past  has  entertained  you  with  these  idle  tales. 
The  sequel  is  far  more  to  my  liking.  For  ten  years 
I  labored  in  the  monastery  at  Florence.  Then  I  was 
sent  to  France,  and  from  there  I  crossed  the  seas  to 
Ville  Marie.  Of  the  rest  you  have  personal  knowl- 
edge. Verily,  my  son,  I  must  be  getting  old  to 
be  thus  garrulous.  Here  I  have  detained  you  a 
full  half-hour,  when  you  would  fain  have  gone  to  the 
Commandant." 

"I  am  still  early,"  said  I,  lightly;  "Monsieur  de 
Bourgmont  will  yet  scarce  have  breakfasted.  But  I 


IN   THE   RECOLLET'S   GARDEN      343 

am  keeping  you  from  the  pruning  of  your  shrubs 
and  plants.  In  truth,  my  Father,  you  have  made  the 
wilderness  to  bloom  as  the  rose." 

"  Ay,  ay !  Given  good  soil,  one  can  with  patient 
care  cause  the  wildest  spot  to  blossom  into  beauty," 
he  rejoined. 

Again  he  was  the  humble  Recollet,  all  other  days 
and  other  lands  forgotten  for  his  present  work  here 
at  the  edge  of  the  forest. 

At  the  gate  of  the  palisade  which,  as  I  have  said, 
surrounded  the  house,  I  was  met  by  a  horde  of  little 
redskins  with  hostile  design  upon  the  parterre  of  the 
missionary. 

"  Here  is  another  swarm  of  these  red  pests,"  I 
called  back  to  him ;  "  best  disperse  them  with  a  hom- 
ily, as  the  saint  of  Assisi  was  wont  to  dismiss  the  wild 
birds  of  the  woods,  and  then,  I  pray  you,  shut  the 
gates,  my  friend,  or,  better  still,  come  to  the  fort. 
The  Indians  are  evil-minded  these  times,  and,  to  judge 
from  the  howling  echoes  of  the  war-songs  chanted  in 
their  villages  last  night,  from  their  gruesome  prepa- 
rations for  taking  the  war-path  against  the  Sioux,  it 
is  not  safe  for  you  to  remain  here,  at  least  unless 
protected  by  the  palisade." 

He  waved  me  a  serene  "au  revoir,"  saying  quietly: 

"  Fear  not,  Normand,  my  life  is  as  safe  among  the 
Indians  as  at  the  fort.  The  red  men  are  my  people 
also.  My  gate  must  remain  open.  They  must  be 
free  to  come  to  me  to-day  of  all  others.  Were  I  to 
go  among  them  now  and  harangue  them,  they  would 
not  listen  to  me.  But  when  they  see  me  here  en- 
gaged in  the  peaceful  cultivation  of  the  earth,  it  may 
reassure  them  that  the  French  are  peaceably  inclined 
toward  them." 

Thus  I  left  the  good  cure  working  among  his  flowers. 


344     A    DAUGHTER   OF   NEW   FRANCE 

Ah,  did  I  but  drearn  what  would  be  the  outcome 
of  the  forenoon,  how  different  would  have  been  my 
course  ! 

As  I  went  my  way,  I  encountered  Sans  Souci,  and 
learned  from  him  that  the  Outawas  had  already  taken 
to  the  woods,  but  the  warriors  of  the  other  tribes  had 
not  yet  gone. 

At  the  barracks  I  spent  the  remainder  of  the 
morning  in  the  preparation  of  the  documents  for 
Monsieur  de  Bourgmont. 

It  was  close  on  to  noon  when  we  at  the  fort  heard 
an  outcry  from  the  forest. 

At  the  behest  of  the  Commandant,  some  two  or 
three  of  us  mounted  to  the  blockhouse  over  the 
prairie  gate,  and  descried,  fleeing  across  the  meadows 
to  the  enclosure,  some  five  or  six  Indians  whom 
we  recognized  as  Miamis,  with  a  band  of  foes  who 
could  be  none  other  than  Outawas  in  hot  pursuit. 

With  all  haste  we  called  the  news  to  the  officers 
and  soldiers  below,  and  De  Bourgmont  ordered  the 
guard  to  throw  open  the  gate  to  the  fugitives. 

Before  the  wretched  Miamis  could  gain  the  security 
of  the  palisade,  the  pursuers  fell  upon  them  and  killed 
all  save  one,  a  young  brave  who  outstripped  them  in 
fleetness.  Him  we  drew  in,  spent  and  despairing. 

"  The  Outawas  are  slaying  our  people,"  he  panted, 
and  then  fell  to  the  ground  fainting  from  exhaustion. 

This  alarm  was  scarce  given  when  all  the  Miamis 
who  were  still  in  their  village,  men,  women,  and  chil- 
dren made  direct  for  the  refuge  of  our  stronghold. 
The  next  moment  all  the  Outawa  warriors,  having 
returned  from  the  war-path,  dashed  out  of  the  neigh- 
boring groves  upon  them. 

Our  Commandant  gave  an  order,  and  the  Outawas 
were  met  by  a  sharp  fire  from  the  garrison ;  several 


IN  THE  RECOLLET'S  GARDEN   345 

were  killed,  but  the  band,  instead  of  being  turned 
back,  became  more  infuriated  than  before. 

The  house  of  Frere  Constantin  stood  farther  up  the 
brow  of  the  hill,  a  little  apart  from  the  fort.  He  had 
mentioned  to  me  some  two  hours  earlier  that  he  in- 
tended to  lay  out  some  plots  at  the  rear  of  the  dwell- 
ing. He  might  not  know  of  the  wrath  of  the  savages. 
"  Frere  Constantin !  I  must  go  to  warn  him,"  I 
cried. 

"  Impossible,"  exclaimed  Dugue  ;  "the  cur£  must 
shut  himself  up  behind  his  palisade  and  there  wait 
until  this  hurricane  has  swept  by.  It  may  destroy 
him ;  but  no  one  can  hope  to  reach  him  now." 

"  I  must  go,"  I  reiterated,  tearing  myself  from  the 
grasp  of  the  gallant  officer,  and  knowing  full  well 
he  would  have  said  no  word  to  deter  me  had  not  the 
exigency  been  indeed  desperate. 

"  Monsieur  de  Guyon,  the  savage  hounds  will  run 
you  down  as  they  would  a  fox,"  seconded  Jolicoeur. 
You  must  needs  be  fleeter  than  an  arrow,  you  must 
have  the  wings  of  the  wind,  to  reach  the  house  of 
the  Recollet  alive." 

"  I  will  go,"  I  cried,  breaking  from  them  and  dash- 
ing through  a  postern  from  which  a  by-path  led  to 
the  church  and  the  cabin  of  the  cure. 

The  spiked  door  closed  again  with  a  thud,  and,  as 
I  sped  away,  I  heard  the  guard  let  the  heavy  bar  fall 
into  place. 

I  was  locked  out,  and  might  find  the  gate  of  the 
palisade  about  the  Recollet's  house  barred,  after  all. 
Of  this  only  was  I  certain,  I  was  alone  on  the  prairie 
and  could  not  hope  to  get  across  the  space  between 
the  fort  and  the  cabin  of  Frere  Constantin  without 
being  perceived  by  the  maddened  Outawas,  who, 
undismayed  by  the  fate  of  those  shot  down,  were 


346     A    DAUGHTER    OF   NEW    FRANCE 

coming  on  toward  the  settlement  with  the  fury  of  a 
wind  storm. 

Yet  I  must  reach  the  Recollet,  if  possible,  or  at 
least  get  near  enough  to  warn  him,  my  friend,  my 
more  than  brother,  my  father  in  affection,  my  hero, 
who  doubtless  knew  nothing  of  the  uprising,  for  he 
was  become  hard  of  hearing  of  late,  by  reason  of 
exposure  to  the  rains  during  a  missionary  journey. 
Spurring  my  strength  with  the  ardor  of  my  anxiety,  I 
kept  on  at  my  utmost  speed.  But  alas,  all  too  soon 
a  diabolical  whoop  announced  that  the  bloodthirsty 
savages  had  caught  sight  of  me.  A  moment  after, 
with  a  fiendish  yell,  they  were  after  me  like  a  pack  of 
ferocious  wolves. 

A  flight  of  arrows  whizzed  past  or  fell  about  me 
like  the  pelting  of  the  winter's  hail ;  I  felt  a  stinging 
pain  in  my  side,  but  still,  dazed  and  wounded,  I 
stumbled  on  with  only  one  thought,  to  reach  and 
save  Frere  Constantin. 

How  little,  at  best,  we  can  do  for  those  whom  we 
love  !  Gladly  would  I  have  given  my  life  for  him, 
yet  every  second  I  felt  myself  growing  weaker. 

Was  it  in  vain  that  I  cried  out  ? 

Was  it  possible  that  he  whose  defect  of  hearing 
was  scarce  perceptible  in  ordinary  converse,  was 
rendered  more  deaf  by  this  confusion  and  din  of 
shrieking  savages  ? 

There  he  appeared  now  in  the  garden.  In  God's 
name,  why  did  he  not  bar  the  gate? 

Merciful  Heaven  !  he  was  coming  out.  Was  it  for 
my  sake  ?  Was  I  to  be  the  cause  of  his  death,  after 
all  ?  —  I,  who  sought  to  warn  him !  Why  did  he 
come  running  toward  me  ?  I  could  never  gain  the 
palisade  alive !  The  mind  is  fleet  at  such  times.  My 
senses  were  all  upon  the  alert.  A  voice  seemed  to 


IN   THE   RECOLLET'S   GARDEN      347 

call  in  my  ear  that  I  could  save  him  yet,  either  by 
letting  myself  be  torn  to  pieces  by  the  savages  before 
his  eyes,  or  by  falling  upon  the  ground  as  if  I  were 
slain.  The  latter  was  no  difficult  r61e  to  enact,  for  I 
was  faint  from  my  wound  ;  if  he  saw  me  fall,  thinking 
me  dead  (and  how  could  the  life  of  any  one  be  pre- 
served against  that  rain  of  arrows !),  thinking  me 
dead,  he  would  bar  the  gate  and  gain  for  himself  pro- 
tection, at  least  for  the  time.  Once  more  an  arrow 
struck  me ;  I  could  no  longer  see.  With  a  last  shout 
to  my  friend  to  save  himself,  I  cast  my  body  flat 
upon  the  ground. 

The  foremost  of  the  Indians  were  close  upon  me ; 
I  was  sure  that  my  final  moment  was  come  and  they 
would  have  my  scalp. 

But  these  demons  passed  me  by;  they  were  so 
insanely  eager  to  wreck  their  fury  upon  the  gentle 
cure.  My  God  !  had  he  barred  the  gate  ?  With  this 
cry  in  my  heart  I  lost  consciousness ;  had  the  Indians 
who  came  after  taken  my  scalp,  I  would  not  have 
known,  and  would  scarce  have  felt  their  barbarity. 


CHAPTER   TWENTY-FIFTH 

THE    RED    LILIES 

I  MUST  have  been  dead  a  long  time.  So  it  seemed 
to  me  when  I  came  back  to  a  life  of  hot  tossings 
upon  my  couch  and  fierce  struggles  to  arise  and  be 
about  my  work,  —  struggles  wherein  I  was  ignomini- 
ously  worsted  by  Gaspard  and  even  by  Jules,  the 
little  Pani  slave,  —  struggles  wherein  the  voice  of 
Cadillac  ordered  me  to  drink  a  sleeping  potion  with 
as  great  sternness  as  if  he  commanded  a  body  of 
soldiery  in  an  expedition  against  the  savages.  At 
other  times,  however,  when  I  lay  exhausted,  glad 
enough  to  remain  motionless,  the  tones  of  our  Sieur 
were  gentle  as  a  woman's. 

But  there  was  a  woman  about,  too,  and  I  called 
her  name  Barbe;  yet  it  was  not  Barbe,  as  I  soon 
learned. 

For  there  was  an  end  to  this  strange  time  also, 
and  at  last  I  came  to  my  real  self,  or  rather,  a  wreck 
of  what  I  had  been.  I  awoke  to  see  La  Mothe's 
little  daughter  Therese  come  softly  stealing  into  the 
room,  where  I  lay  upon  a  bed  spread  with  cool  sheets 
of  linen,  for  the  air  was  soft,  as  in  late  summer,  and 
albeit  a  grateful  whiff  of  breeze  from  the  river  found 
its  way  in  through  the  vine-shaded  window,  I  vaguely 
decided  that,  out  under  the  sun,  the  day  must  be 
stifling  hot. 

Idly  I  watched  the  child,  wondering  if  this  might 
be  another  dream. 


THE   RED   LILIES  349 

The  next  moment  she  caught  my  gaze  fixed  in- 
tently upon  her,  and  with  a  frightened  cry  fled 
beyond  the  curtain  of  the  doorway. 

Presently  I  heard  the  woman's  voice  that  had 
haunted  my  fevered  fancy,  a  voice  which  I  now 
recognized. 

It  was  not  Barbe,  but  Madame  Cadillac,  who  drew 
back  the  curtain  and  coming  quickly  to  me,  took  my 
hand  in  hers. 

I  heaved  a  sigh,  and  then  my  heart  smote  me  that 
I  could  be  so  indifferent  to  the  anxiety  depicted  upon 
the  countenance  of  my  dear  Therese.  What  other 
woman  save  my  mother  had  ever  been  to  me  so  kind, 
so  unselfish,  so  loving,  as  this  dear  sister ! 

She  bent  over  me  and  lightly  touched  my  forehead 
with  her  lips,  but  putting  my  arms  about  her  neck,  I 
drew  her  face  down  to  mine  and  kissed  her  sweet 
mouth  with  brotherly  affection. 

"Ah,  Normand,"  she  said,  "this  is  a  happy  day, 
for  the  fever  has  left  you.  Now  you  will  soon  grow 
strong  again." 

"  Yes,  yes,"  I  faltered,  "  but  what  of  Frere  Con- 
stantin?" 

"Oh!  all  is  well  with  him,"  Therese  answered 
evasively. 

I  was  not  satisfied. 

"Did  —  did  he  close  the  gate?"  I  asked,  sitting 
up,  whereat  a  wave  of  excitement  swept  over  me, 
followed  by  a  sense  of  confusion,  and  a  determi- 
nation to  be  off  to  the  house  of  the  Recollet  with 
all  speed. 

"  Come,  Normand,  rest  your  head  upon  this  pillow, 
and  I  will  tell  you  about  our  dear  Father  del  Halle," 
entreated  my  sister ;  and  thereat  she  pushed  me  down 
as  if  I  were  a  man  of  straw. 


350     A   DAUGHTER    OF    NEW   FRANCE 

"  Well !  Did  he  close  the  gate  ? "  I  repeated 
fretfully. 

"  Normand,  you  know  Frere  Constantin  would 
never  have  closed  the  gate  while  there  remained  any 
suffering  human  being  outside." 

"  But  I  was  dead,"  I  objected. 

She  only  shook  her  head. 

"And  did  the  Indians  attack  him?"  I  urged. 

"  They  were  a  party  of  young  braves  wild  with  fury 
and  a  thirst  for  blood  ;  they  remembered  not  that  the 
missionary  had  ever  been  the  friend  of  their  people. 
They  fell  upon  him  —  " 

Here  I  interrupted  my  sister  with  a  loud  cry 
and  plucked  at  the  bandages  of  my  wounds  to  tear 
them  off. 

"  Listen,  Normand,"  pleaded  she,  calling  for  Gas- 
pard  in  great  alarm.  "  Will  you  not  listen?  The  sav- 
age young  Outawas  had  bound  the  cure,  and  mayhap 
they  meant  to  kill  him ;  but  the  older  chiefs,  Jean  le 
Blanc  and  Le  Pasant,  came  up  at  the  moment.  They 
cut  the  bonds  of  our  dear  Frere  Constantin,  and  Jean 
le  Blanc  prayed  him  to  go  and  tell  Monsieur  de 
Bourgmont  that  the  Outawas  meant  no  ill  to  the 
French,  that  their  quarrel  was  with  the  Miamis.  Jean 
le  Blanc  besought  him  to  beg  the  Commandant  to 
stop  the  garrison  from  firing  upon  the  Outawas." 

"  And  did  he  go?"  I  queried,  starting  up  again. 

"  He  set  out  for  the  fort  at  once,"  replied  Madame 
Cadillac. 

"  And  the  firing  was  stopped?" 

"  The  firing  straightway  ceased.  Now  be  satisfied. 
You  shall  hear  no  further  to-day,"  concluded  my 
sister,  with  decision. 

"  One  word  more,"  I  implored.  "  Barbe,  is  she 
here?" 


THE   RED   LILIES  351 

"Not  yet,"  answered  Therese,  rejoiced,  I  could 
see,  because  I  dwelt  no  more  upon  the  theme  of  the 
Outavva  uprising.  "  No,  Barbe  is  in  Quebec,  but  I 
hope  she  will  soon  come  down  to  me ;  therefore  you 
must  make  haste  to  grow  strong,  Normand,  against 
her  coming.  Ah !  here  is  little  Therese  again  with 
a  small  portion  of  pigeon-broth  that  Gaspard  has 
intrusted  to  her.  Proud,  indeed,  she  is  to  be  your 
cup-bearer !  " 

How  could  I  decline  the  food  when  it  was  so  pret- 
tily offered  by  the  kind,  tiny  hands  of  the  child !  The 
little  Hebe  stood  by  until  I  had  taken  the  last  drop 
of  the  broth,  stamping  her  baby  foot  in  command 
when  once  I  hesitated ;  but  it  was  Madame  Cadillac 
who  held  the  cup  to  my  lips  and  encouraged  me. 

Erelong,  however,  I  was  hungry  enough,  and  able 
also  to  sit  for  a  while  daily  by  the  vine-wreathed 
window. 

Then  I  began  to  wonder  why  Barbe  delayed  so 
strangely.  How  her  sweet  companionship  would 
have  brightened  those  weary  days  of  convalescence  ! 

At  length  a  solution  of  the  puzzle  occurred  to  me, 
and  I  upbraided  myself  for  having  been  so  slow  to 
see.  Barbe  did  not  come,  either  because  she  awaited 
news  of  the  Bostonnais,  or  else  she  had  gone  south  to 
be  married  to  him. 

Yes,  she  had  gone  to  the  friends  of  her  girlhood, 
to  the  wife  of  Mr.  Davis,  or  the  ladies  who  were  once 
the  Demoiselles  Clarke.  From  the  home  of  one  of 
these  friends  her  wedding  with  the  English  officer 
would  take  place.  It  was  plain  enough  why  she 
cared  no  more  for  Le  Detroit. 

Well,  if  she  was  joyously  content,  what  mattered 
aught  else?  To  secure  her  happiness,  had  I  not  risked 
all  that  was  far  dearer  to  me  than  life?  Why  should 


352     A   DAUGHTER   OF   NEW   FRANCE 

I  be  so  ungenerous    now   as  to  indulge  this  insane 
jealousy? 

I  spoke  no  word  to  my  patient  nurse  nor  to  any 
one   else    of  my   discovery,  but   I   became    dull    in 
spirits. 

"  Where  is  Frere  Constantin  ?  "  I  asked  many  times  ; 
"  why  does  he  not  come  to  visit  me?" 

To  this  inquiry  Therese  always  gave  the  same 
reply  :  "  Have  patience  ;  Father  del  Halle  was 
wounded  by  the  Indians.  All  is  well  with  him  now. 
When  you  are  recovered,  you  shall  go  to  the  house 
of  the  Recollet  if  you  wish." 

One  day,  being  now  much  recuperated,  I  besought 
Madame  Cadillac  to  take  a  little  of  the  rest  she  so 
greatly  needed,  and  leave  the  Pani  boy,  Jules,  to  wait 
upon  me. 

After  some  demur  she  went  away  for  an  hour's 
repose,  as  I  begged,  and  Jules  took  his  place  behind 
my  chair  with  a  branch  of  maple  for  a  fan  to  cool  the 
air,  and  also  to  drive  away  the  flies  that  buzzed  about 
me  in  tantalizing  fashion. 

"  Jules,"  said  I,  turning  to  him  abruptly,  and  with 
my  hand  arresting  the  waving  of  the  green  branch, 
"  is  the  cure  so  ill  that  he  cannot  come  to  see 
me?  " 

"  My  faith,  no,  Monsieur  Guyon,"  answered  the 
boy,  standing  rigid  as  a  figure  wrought  in  bronze, 
though  his  bright  eyes  shone  with  interest ;  "  no,  my 
master,  Monsieur  le  Cure  is  not  ill  now  at  all.  Mon- 
sieur le  Cure  was  here  many  times  while  my  master 
was  in  the  fever." 

II  He  is  not  ill !     Then  why  does  he  not  come  here 
when  I  am  better?"  I  queried,  wondering. 

"  The  Pani  knows  not,  but  perhaps  it  is  that  my 
master  should  not  be  troubled,"  suggested  the  boy. 


THE   RED   LILIES  353 

I  laughed. 

"  Jules,  it  will  not  trouble  me  to  see  Monsieur  le 
Cure","  I  said.  "  Madame  Cadillac  is  resting  and  must 
not  be  disturbed  ;  do  as  I  bid  you.  Go  find  the  cure 
and  ask  him  to  come  to  me  at  once.  Go,  do  not  be 
afraid  to  leave  me ;  I  want  nothing." 

Obedient  as  a  spaniel,  the  lad  sped  away,  and  I  set 
myself  to  wait. 

Half  an  hour  passed.  Content  that  I  had  carried 
my  point  and  was  again  master  of  my  own  actions, 
and  in  tranquil  expectation  of  seeing  so  soon  the  face 
of  my  friend,  the  face  of  Frere  Constantin,  —  a  little 
worn  perchance  from  his  recent  illness,  but  still  the 
cheerful,  noble  countenance  I  loved,  —  soothed  by 
these  thoughts,  I  must  have  fallen  asleep  in  my 
chair. 

All  at  once  I  was  aroused  by  the  voice  of  Jules, 
saying,  "This  way,  mon  pere,  my  master  is  here; 
this  way,  if  you  please." 

A  rich  voice  made  some  response,  —  a  pleasant, 
musical  voice,  but  it  was  unfamiliar;  it  was  not  the 
voice  for  whose  tones  I  longed. 

Startled,  I  opened  my  eyes  and  turned  my  head, 
looking  toward  the  gallery  whereon  my  room 
bordered. 

A  minute  later  there  appeared  in  the  doorway  a 
benign  figure  in  a  gray  robe  and  cowl, —  a  Recollet, 
but  not  the  friend  for  whom  I  waited ;  a  stranger,  not 
Frere  Constantin. 

"  Here,  my  master,  here  is  Monsieur  le  CureY' 
joyously  cried  the  childish  treble  of  the  Pani 
boy. 

In  that  moment  I  realized  the  truth  which  had  been 
kept  from  me.    My  friend  Frere  Constantin  was  dead  ; 
another  was  cur£  of  Ste.  Anne's. 
23 


354     A   DAUGHTER   OF   NEW   FRANCE 

I  remember  no  more  of  this  afternoon ;  they  told 
me  afterwards  that  with  a  cry  of  grief  I  fell  forward 
out  of  the  chair,  insensible. 

The  little  slave,  ingenuously  thinking  I  would  fain 
speak  to  the  cure  for  the  welfare  of  my  soul,  had  run 
to  bring  him,  and  the  latter  had  come  with  ready 
kindliness.  But  alack,  the  shock  of  that  meeting 
was  wellnigh  the  undoing  of  those  weeks  of  con- 
valescence ;  for  my  wound  opened  and  the  fever 
returned.  In  the  confused  hours  which  followed  I 
sometimes  distinguished  the  voice  and  face  of  the 
good  man  who  was  come  to  us  in  the  place  of  him 
who  was  gone,  and  his  words  soothed  my  sorrow; 
nathless  it  was  long  ere  I  could  ask  the  question  that 
was  in  my  mind. 

One  morning,  however,  when  I  awoke  sane  again, 
and  found  Therese  watching  beside  me,  I  said,  taking 
her  hand  in  mine,  — 

"  Tell  me  now,  Therese,  about  Frere  Constantin." 

"  I  will  tell  you  all,  Normand,"  she  answered 
tearfully. 

"  On  that  day  of  June  (we  are  now  well  into  August), 
on  that  day,  warned  by  your  cry,  Father  del  Halle 
left  his  flowers  and  ran  to  meet  you.  Many  blamed 
him  that  he  did  not  return  when  he  saw  you  fall,  to 
all  appearance  dead.  We  understand,  he  could  not 
do  it.  The  fiendish  young  Outawas,  maddened  by 
rage  at  seeing  their  companions  fired  upon  from  the 
fort,  dragged  the  Recollet  back  into  the  peaceful, 
blooming  garden.  Three  times  they  stabbed  him  and 
then  bound  him ;  inhumanly  glad  to  have  secured  so 
important  a  hostage. 

"  But  Jean  le  Blanc  coming  up,  as  I  told  you,  re- 
proached the  young  men  for  what  they  had  done  and 
cut  the  bonds  of  the  missionary. 


THE   RED   LILIES  355 

"  Jean  le  Blanc  says  that  then,  forgetting  the  wounds 
of  the  cure",  he  begged  the  priest  to  go  to  Monsieur 
de  Bourgmont  and  beseech  him  to  stop  the  firing. 
Frere  Constantin  uncomplainingly  set  out,  but,  weak- 
ened by  loss  of  blood,  he  toiled  along  with  difficulty. 

"  Some  five  or  six  soldiers  rushed  out  to  meet  him 
and  to  bring  you  in,  Normand,  though  you  were 
thought  to  be  killed.  The  Outawas  had  been  driven 
back,  but,  just  as  the  little  party  of  rescuers  reached 
the  gate  on  their  return,  the  big  chief  Le  Pasant 
from  behind  a  bush  of  sumach  fired  into  the  group. 
He  had  aimed  at  the  soldiers,  but  the  bullet  struck 
the  Recollet,  killing  him  on  the  instant. 

"  Sadly  they  brought  him  into  the  fort  and  to  the 
manor.  On  his  breast,  they  say,  together  with  the 
cross  of  his  Order,  they  found  a  spray  of  fleur-de-lis 
whose  once  white  petals  were  dyed  red  with  his  life 
blood.  He  rests  in  consecrated  earth  beneath  the 
trees  yonder.  Shall  we  go  there  together  when  you 
walk  out?  " 

I  bowed  my  head  ;  I  could  not  speak  for  emotion,  as 
I  thought  of  my  friend,  the  humble  Recollet,  a  hero  to 
the  last,  —  Frere  Constantin,  who,  quickly  pardoning 
the  ill-use,  the  wounds  the  savage  Outawas  inflicted 
upon  him,  went  forth  so  promptly  to  help  those  who 
had  insulted  and  stabbed  him;  yes,  he  saved  them, 
yet  only  to  meet  death  at  their  hands. 

"  And  I  ?  The  more  you  tell  me,  the  more  I  mar- 
vel that  I  still  live,"  I  said  at  last 

"  A  soldier  bore  you  in,  almost  to  the  gate,  and 
then  another  took  his  place,"  replied  my  sister. 

Busied  with  memories  of  my  friend,  I  asked  no 
more.  It  was  some  days  before  I  learned  that  the 
man  to  whom  under  providence  I  owed  the  continu- 
ance of  my  existence  was  the  sergeant,  Jean  Joly,  who 


356     A   DAUGHTER   OF  NEW   FRANCE 

was  shot  down  by  Le  Pasant  also,  with  the  fusee 
which  Monsieur  de  Tonty  a  short  time  before  had 
foolishly  permitted  the  Indian  to  buy  from  the  King's 
storehouse. 

Alas,  poor  Jolicoeur!  He  gave  his  life  for  me! 
And  I  had  not  thought  to  ask  for  him  during  all 
these  weeks. 


CHAPTER  TWENTY-SIXTH 

WAMPUM  AND  VERMILION 

OUR  Sieur  Cadillac  had  returned  to  Le  Detroit 
in  triumph.  Not  only  was  he  acquitted  of 
the  company's  charges  that  he  had  infringed  their 
rights,  but  orders  had  come  from  France  depriving 
them  of  all  privileges  on  the  straits,  and  restoring  to 
La  Mothe  his  former  authority,  with  permission  to 
carry  on  all  the  trade  of  the  region. 

Having  brought  back  with  him  a  garrison  of  two 
hundred  men,  besides  a  hundred  new  settlers,  he 
now  set  himself  to  inquire  into  the  causes  of  the 
Indian  outbreak,  and  to  bring  the  Outawas  to  an 
understanding  of  their  crime  in  having  so  barbar- 
ously requited  the  labors  of  the  gentle  Recollet. 
To  this  latter  end  he  summoned  a  great  council  of 
the  chiefs. 

Never  shall  I  forget  the  scene  of  the  assembly,  — 
the  Indians  wearing  their  crowns  of  eagle's  feathers 
with  the  dignity  of  princes ;  their  brown  faces  daubed 
with  vermilion  and^chre,  white  lead  and  soot.  Be- 
sides their  bright-hued  blankets,  they  were  clad  but 
in  the  breach-cloth  of  deerskin,  leggins  trimmed  with 
small  silver  bells,  and  moccasins  gay  with  por- 
cupine quills.  The  bodies  of  several  were  painted 
in  many  colors.  Others  had  traced  in  white  clay 
a  lace-like  pattern  upon  their  skins,  as  if  upon  the 
seams  of  a  coat,  —  a  pattern  that  at  a  little  distance 
might  be  taken  for  argent  lace.  Their  breasts  were 


35«     A    DAUGHTER    OF    NEW    FRANCE 

adorned  with  necklaces  of  wampum  ;  their  arms  with 
bracelets  of  silver.  Some  wore  strings  of  silver 
half-moons  graduated  in  size  from  one  to  several 
inches,  hanging  from  neck  to  ankles  both  in  front 
and  down  the  back;  and  the  Outawas  had,  in  addi- 
tion to  their  other  adornment,  a  little  stone  sus- 
pended from  the  nose.  Altogether,  they  presented 
a  terrible  picture  of  savage  power. 

On  the  other  side  of  the  hall  were  ranged  the 
officers  of  the  fort  in  all  the  grandeur  they  were 
wont  to  display  on  such  occasions,  to  keep  up  the 
prestige  of  the  French. 

The  council  being  formally  opened  by  the  Com- 
mandant, Jean  le  Blanc,  eager  to  present  his  plea 
that  he  was  not  to  blame  for  the  tragedy  at  the  fort, 
begged  leave  to  speak. 

"My  father,"  he  began,  "we  have  been  to  Quebec 
to  see  Onontio,  but  he  has  sent  us  back  to  you.  I 
will  say  to  you  now  what  I  said  to  Onontio.  We 
killed  ourselves  when  we  killed  the  Gray  Robe,  the 
child  of  the  Great  Father  who  gives  us  life.  Have 
pity  on  us.  We  have  killed  the  Gray  Robe,  but  we 
hope  to  bring  him  to  life  again.  Not  with  neck- 
laces and  furs,  for  I  know  well  that  though  we 
might  have  a  houseful  of  them  they  would  not  be 
a  recompense  for  the  blood  of  our  father.  What 
then  can  I  do  ?  I  can  only  satisfy  you,  my  father, 
by  giving  you  two  captives,  who  are  of  our  own 
blood,  since  we  have  adopted  them.  Receive  them, 
my  father,  to  cover  the  blood  of  the  Gray  Robe;  else 
take  my  body.  I  can  offer  you  nothing  more;  have 
pity  upon  me!  Restore  tranquillity  to  the  lakes 
and  rivers,  that  all  the  children  of  Onontio  may  be 
in  peace,  and  may  cook  their  meat  and  drink  of  the 
wave  with  all  safety.  My  father  Talon,  whom  you 


WAMPUM   AND   VERMILION         359 

call  the  Rat,  was  the  first  chief  who  came  from  the 
Upper  Lakes  to  find  the  French.  Onontio  gave 
him  the  key  to  the  door  of  trade  that  led  to  them. 
It  is  the  Outawas  who  have  killed  the  Gray  Robe, 
by  mistake  indeed,  yet  we  have  killed  him  and  the 
soldier.  But  I  have  come  at  the  bidding  of  Onontio. 
I  am  a  child  of  obedience;  I  have  come,  if  need  be, 
to  die  with  my  brother  the  Gray  Robe." 

When  the  Outavva  warrior  had  finished,  Monsieur 
de  Cadillac  rose,  and,  adapting  his  mode  of  expres- 
sion to  the  manner  of  the  savages,  made  to  them 
the  following  address,  whereof  I  have  kept  a  faith- 
ful transcript :  — 

"Jean  le  Blanc,  Kinonge,  and  all  of  you,  hear  me. 
Monsieur  de  Vaudreuil  writes  me  that  he  leaves  me 
master  of  peace,  and  bids  me  do  as  I  think  best  to 
restore  tranquillity  to  the  nations.  Otontagon,  hear 
me!  I  have  lighted  a  great  fire.  I  have  planted  four 
beautiful  trees  near  this  fire,  two  on  my  right  hand 
and  two  on  my  left.  Outawas,  you  are  the  largest 
tree.  I  have  said  to  myself,  '  It  is  well.  I  will  re- 
pose under  the  shadow  of  this  tree;  there  I  shall 
have  only  good  thoughts. '  Could  I  believe  that  any 
one  had  attached  to  the  top  of  this  tree  a  sharp  and 
heavy  hatchet,  which  I  did  not  see,  because  it  was 
covered  with  foliage?  While  I  slept  peacefully 
and  dreamed  only  of  peace,  a  wicked  bear  climbed 
to  the  top  of  this  tree.  He  shook  it  with  all  his 
might,  and  the  hatchet  fell  upon  my  cabin  and 
crushed  it. 

"When  I  saw  my  cabin  in  ruins,  my  heart  was 
displeased  and  I  said,  '  I  will  cut  down  this  tree,  I 
will  root  it  out,  I  will  reduce  it  to  ashes. '  But  after- 
wards I  said,  '  Why  destroy  this  tree,  its  leaves  and 
its  fruit?  I  pity  the  women  and  children.  This 


360     A   DAUGHTER   OF   NEW   FRANCE 

drunken  bear  has  done  all  the  mischief;  he  must  die, 
and  I  will  give  the  others  life. ' 

"  Outawas,  listen  to  me.  I  demand  that  you  de- 
liver up  to  me  Le  Pasant,  him  whom  you  call  the 
wicked  bear;  he  it  was  who  with  his  own  hand  killed 
the  Gray  Robe.  Bring  him  hither,  and  give  me  full 
power  over  him,  to  grant  him  life  or  put  him  to 
death.  If  he  refuses  to  embark,  I  command  you  to 
cut  off  his  head  in  your  own  village.  Outawas, 
avoid  the  perils  that  threaten  you.  Have  pity  on 
your  women  and  children.  I  must  have  your  reply 
by  the  going  down  of  the  sun.  Onontio  and  I  have 
one  heart  and  the  same  thoughts;  he  will  confirm 
all  I  do,  whether  for  peace  or  for  war." 

The  chiefs  withdrew,  to  ponder  the  words  they 
had  heard,  as  was  the  custom,  but  in  the  after- 
noon of  the  same  day  they  returned,  and  Jean  le 
Blanc  made  answer  to  our  Sieur. 

"My  father,"  said  he,  "the  bear  that  you  ask  us 
to  deliver  up  is  very  powerful  in  our  village.  He 
has  strong  alliances  with  all  the  nations  of  the 
lakes.  He  is  a  great  tree.  Who  is  strong  enough 
to  root  it  up?  But,  my  father,  since  your  freart  is 
hard  as  a  rock,  we  must  obey  you.  Send  a  boat 
with  us  to  Michilimackinac,  and  we  will  put  Le 
Pasant  into  it.  If  he  refuses  to  embark,  we  will  cut 
off  his  head.  He  is  my  brother,  my  own  brother, 
yet  what  can  I  do.  You  must  be  obeyed;  that  is 
what  we  have  decided  among  ourselves." 

"  Otontagon,  it  is  well, "  replied  De  la  Mothe ;  "  for 
Monsieur  de  Vaudreuil  has  said  to  me  that  the  two 
captives  whom  you  have  brought,  though  adopted 
by  you,  are  of  foreign  blood.  Father  Recollet 
and  the  soldier  were  of  my  blood,  my  own  blood. 
Onontio  has  told  you  that  you  should  have  brought 


WAMPUM   AND   VERMILION         361 

him  the  head  of  Le  Pasant.  This  bear  who  dreams 
upon  his  mat  only  of  making  war  must  not  spoil 
your  peaceful  spirit.  When  you  have  delivered 
him  up  to  me,  you  shall  have  peace,  your  women  and 
children  will  rejoice,  and  I  will  forget  the  mischief 
you  have  done  me." 

The  following  day  the  Commandant  held  another 
council  at  which  were  present  the  Hurons,  the 
Miamis,  and  two  chiefs  of  the  Kiskakons  who  ar- 
rived with  a  white  flag  from  Michilimackinac,  to 
the  surprise  of  every  one. 

The  presence  of  these  last  was  not  reassuring, 
since  they  were  the  most  powerful  allies  of  the 
Outawas.  Nevertheless  Cadillac  addressed  them 
with  severity. 

"  What  brings  you  here,  Onaske  ?  "  he  demanded 
of  the  older  chief.  " Did  Onontio  tell  you  to  come? 
Are  we  friends  ?  " 

"My  father,"  replied  Onaske,  "I  go  everywhere 
with  my  head  lifted  up,  because  I  never  have  any 
bad  affairs;  I  said  within  myself,  'My  father  at  Le 
Detroit  knows  me;  I  risk  nothing  by  going  to  see 
him.'  " 

"Onaske,  how  dare  you  say  you  have  no  bad 
affairs?"  inquired  La  Mothe,  sternly.  "Did  not 
your  nation  come  hither  to  aid  the  Outawas  who 
have  killed  me?  You  are  very  bold  to  come  here 
while  my  land  is  still  smoking  with  my  blood  and 
that  of  my  children.  When  chiefs  grow  old,  they 
are  wont  to  grow  wise,  but  you  have  grown  fool- 
ish. What  is  your  true  reason  for  coming  to  Le 
Detroit  ? " 

"My  father,"  responded  Onaske,  seeing  that  con- 
cealment was  useless,  "  it  is  misery  that  has  caused 
us  to  throw  ourselves  into  your  arms.  We  are 


362     A    DAUGHTER    OF   NEW    FRANCE 

wretched.  Our  children  have  eaten  grass  all  sum- 
mer; we  are  compelled  to  boil  it  and  drink  the 
soup.  Misery  is  a  strange  thing.  I  have  risked 
everything,  even  death,  but  I  will  die  by  the  hand 
of  my  father,  or  perhaps  he  will  pity  me.  By  rea- 
son of  the  wars  we  shall  have  no  maize  this  year, 
and  our  children  will  die.  But  for  me,  our  whole 
nation  would  have  come  to  Le  Detroit;  I  said  to 
them,  'Be  patient  and  await  my  return."1 

"  Onaske,  if  you  die  of  famine,  it  is  not  my 
affair,"  rejoined  Cadillac,  with  an  appearance  of 
great  displeasure.  "You  have  killed  my  children, 
you  have  struck  me,  and  Heaven  punishes  you  for  it. 
Go  away !  you  are  very  bold. " 

After  a  parley  with  the  Hurons,  a  last  general 
council  was  held. 

Monsieur  de  la  Mothe,  in  opening  it,  first  ad- 
dressed the  Outawas. 

"Jean  le  Blanc,  Kinonge,  and  the  other  chiefs 
know  the  promise  you  have  made  me,"  he  said. 
"  Onaske,  Koutaouiliboe,  listen  while  Otontagon 
tells  you  the  result  of  the  councils,  that  you  may 
decide  what  to  do.  Have  pity  on  your  children 
who  have  eaten  grass  all  summer,  and  for  whom 
you  have  felt  such  tenderness  that  you  were  willing 
to  risk  your  life  by  coming  here." 

Otontagon  then  related  the  demand  of  my  brother, 
and  the  promise  the  Outawas  had  given  him. 

"Otontagon,  my  nephew,"  answered  Onask6,  "  Le 
Pasant  is  your  flesh;  Kinonge  is  also  your  flesh. 
But  if  our  father  demands  the  life  of  Le  Pasant,  it 
must  be  so.  It  is  just  that  this  dog  who  has  bitten 
both  of  us  to  the  bone  should  be  destroyed.  Who 
can  effect  anything  in  my  nation  but  me?  I  speak 
in  the  hearing  of  Manitouabe,  of  Koutaouiliboe,  of 


WAMPUM    AND   VERMILION          363 

Sakima,  and  of  Nanakouena.  I  am  strong.  I  thank 
my  father  for  having  declared  to  me  his  thought.  I 
thank  you,  my  brothers,  for  the  promise  you  have 
made  to  him.  We  must  either  keep  it  and  live  in 
peace,  or  die." 

Monsieur  de  Cadillac  bowed  his  head. 

"It  is  well,"  he  said.  "But  remember,  Onaske, 
if  you  fail  to  fulfil  your  promise,  you  will  fall  into 
greater  misery  than  before.  I  shall  have  dull  ears 
forever,  and  will  never  again  entertain  thoughts  of 
peace.  Tell  your  people  that  peace  will  be  con- 
cluded only  when  the  satisfaction  I  demand  shall  be 
rendered.  Until  then  they  must  come  here  no  more. 
After  Le  Pasant  has  been  given  up  to  me,  you  may 
all  come  with  a  high  head.  I  will  smooth  the  way." 

Thus  the  council  closed,  and  the  following  day 
the  chiefs  departed  for  Michilimackinac. 

Our  Sieur  had  demanded  the  death  of  the  warrior, 
and,  in  his  own  grief  and  anger,  was  determined  to 
avenge  the  fate  of  his  friend  the  Recollet.  Whether 
during  the  interval  he  judged  it  wiser  to  be  satis- 
fied with  the  utter  submission  of  the  Indians,  or 
whether  the  spirit  of  our  dear  Frere  Constantin 
pleaded  with  him  for  mercy  rather  than  justice 
upon  the  slayer  of  the  missionary,  I  cannot  say. 

Be  this  as  it  may,  Le  Pasant  was  brought  to  Le 
Detroit  by  the  chiefs  Sakima,  Meyaville,  and  Kouta- 
ouiliboe,  who  delivered  him  up  to  La  Mothe  in  the 
Place  d'Armes  of  the  fort. 

It  was  an  interesting  and  imposing  ceremony. 
Le  Pasant,  who  was  seventy  years  old  and  very 
rotund,  presented  an  appearance  of  terror  unusual 
in  an  Indian,  as  he  was  brought  within  the  palisade 
by  the  other  chiefs,  who  were  clad  in  their  gaudiest 
attire. 


364     A   DAUGHTER    OF   NEW   FRANCE 

When  Monsieur  de  Cadillac  stepped  out  of  his 
council  room  to  receive  them,  Otontagon,  or  Jean 
le  Blanc,  at  once  advanced  to  meet  him,  compelling 
the  old  warrior,  by  a  firm  grasp  upon  his  shoulder, 
to  come  forward  also. 

"My  father,"  said  he,  addressing  De  la  Mothe 
with  solemnity,  "  here  is  Le  Pasant.  You  have  the 
power  to  put  him  to  death.  He  is  your  slave.  You 
can  make  him  eat  under  your  table  like  the  dog  that 
picks  up  the  bones." 

Cadillac  regarded  the  prisoner  in  stern  silence  for 
a  few  minutes,  and  then  spoke  to  him  with  great 
dignity. 

"  Here  you  are,  Le  Pasant,  before  your  father  and 
your  master,"  he  said.  "  Is  this  the  great  chief  who 
was  so  well  related  and  so  highly  esteemed?  Was 
it  you  who  ate  white  bread  every  day  at  my  table, 
and  drank  of  my  brandy  and  my  wine?  Yes.  And 
it  was  you  whom  I  had  cured  by  my  physicians, 
when  you  were  ill!  It  was  you  whom  I  helped  in 
your  need,  and  took  care  of  your  family !  And  be- 
cause of  these  benefits  you  have  killed  my  people ! 
You  who  hide  yourself  and  droop  your  eyes !  —  was 
it  not  you  who  went  every  day  to  the  Gray  Robe, 
who  was  wont  to  make  much  of  you,  and  had  you 
eat  with  him,  and  taught  you?  Yet  it  was  you  who 
killed  him.  There  are  reproaches,  Le  Pasant,  which 
slay  you;  there  is  no  longer  life  in  your  heart;  your 
eyes  are  half  dead ;  you  close  them ;  they  dare  not 
look  at  the  sun.  Go,  my  slave ! " 

Le  Pasant  had  been  overcome  with  fear,  but  this 
last  sentence  gave  him  courage.  "  Our  father  is 
kind  to  his  children  who  have  angered  him,"  he 
blurted  out,  and  therewith  made  himself  as  small  as 
might  be,  behind  the  others. 


WAMPUM   AND   VERMILION         365 

The  other  chiefs  were  highly  pleased  at  the  clem- 
ency of  the  Commandant. 

"Our  father  is  kind,"  repeated  Koutaouiliboe, 
stepping  forward.  "  We  want  to  come  back  to  Le 
Detroit;  give  us  again  our  fields  that  we  have  de- 
serted, and  we  will  come  to  live  in  peace.  The 
corn  at  Michilimackinac  grows  but  a  finger  long, 
here  it  is  a  cubit  long." 

For  answer,  our  Sieur  arose  and  presented  to  the 
chiefs  a  beautiful  belt  of  wampum,  saying,  — 

"My  children,  your  submission  has  gained  my 
heart.  Your  obedience  has  made  the  axe  fall  out 
of  my  hand.  It  has  saved  your  lives,  and  the  lives 
of  your  women  and  children.  And  you,  Le  Pasant, 
why  have  you  fled  from  me  in  fear  ?  You  deserve  to 
die,  but  I  give  you  your  life  because  of  your  sub- 
mission and  obedience.  You  are  as  one  dead,  be- 
cause you  have  been  given  up  to  justice.  But  I  stay 
my  hand,  and  let  you  go  to  your  family." 

This  leniency  of  our  Sieur's,  though  generous, 
proved  most  unfortunate.  In  his  rage  he  had  prom- 
ised the  Miamis  the  head  of  the  Outawa  chief,  and 
now,  when  they  found  that  the  Bear  was  permitted 
to  live,  they  revolted. 

They  were  soon  subdued,  however,  and  an  envoy 
of  the  government  having  stirred  up  some  trouble 
among  a  few  dissatisfied  settlers  at  Le  Detroit,  my 
brother  sent  me  up  to  Montreal  to  present  his  side 
of  the  story  to  Monsieur  de  Vaudreuil. 


CHAPTER   TWENTY-SEVENTH 

AGAIN  THE  GALLANT  BOSTONNAIS 

AT  Ville  Marie  I  put  before  Governor  Vaudreuil 
the  affairs  intrusted  to  me  by  our  Sieur,  and 
thence  proceeded,  with  as  little  delay  as  might  be, 
to  Quebec,  there  to  carry  out  his  instructions  still 
further  and  to  await  his  mails  from  France.  I  will 
not  attempt  to  describe  my  emotions  when,  after  a 
four  days'  canoe  voyage  down  the  St.  Lawrence,  I 
beheld  looming  up  before  me  the  rugged  crag 
whereon  the  intrepid  Champlain  erected  the  royal 
stronghold  of  New  France;  when  I  saw  the  peaked 
roofs  and  gilded  belfries  of  the  upper  town  gleaming 
in  the  light  of  the  setting  sun;  when  I  gazed  upon 
the  grim  old  Castle  of  St.  Louis  and  saw  above  it 
the  proud  banner  of  the  fleur-de-lis  floating  to  the 
breeze,  even  as  it  does  to-day  in  this  good  year  1735, 
and  ever  shall,  I  ween. 

It  was  a  joy,  indeed,  to  find  that  my  long  absence 
had  not  turned  the  hearts  of  friends  from  me;  to 
have  pressed  upon  me  offers  of  hospitality  and  en- 
tertainment from  high  quarters.  In  the  letter  I 
brought  from  his  Excellency  it  was  ordered  that  I 
was  to  be  given  rooms  in  the  Chateau,  and  the  best 
that  the  old  mansion  afforded ;  the  Intendant,  Mon- 
sieur de  Beauharnois,  in  turn  most  cordially  made 
me  free  of  his  table  at  the  Palace. 

The  Recollets,  seeing  that  I  was  not  disposed  to 
house  myself  with  the  great,  would  fain  have  me 


AGAIN  THE   GALLANT   BOSTONNAIS   367 

stay  with  them  in  their  new  monastery  beside  the 
church  on  the  Place  d'Armes,  and  I  had  a  score  of 
other  invitations. 

Nevertheless  I  chose  to  go  quietly  with  my 
brother  Jacques  to  the  old  residence  above  the 
Guyon  warehouse,  which,  with  its  many  associa- 
tions and  its  memories  of  my  dear  parents,  was 
still  home  to  me,  albeit  I  now  found  there  another 
generation  of  Guyons,  over  whom  my  brother's  wife 
ruled  as  "la  bonne  mere,"  —  she  who  was  pretty 
Louise  Neil. 

Still  comely  she  was,  and  most  good-natured, 
albeit  now,  I  hear,  there  is  a  deal  too  much  of  her 
in  the  matter  of  avoirdupois. 

For  my  reception  there  was  a  banquet,  to  which 
our  nearest  friends  were  bidden,  and  during  all  my 
visit  Louise  strove  to  her  utmost  to  tempt  my  pal- 
ate with  the  delectable  delicacies  known  to  the 
housewives  of  New  France,  since  she  would  have 
it  I  was  not  grown  fully  strong  after  my  late  ill- 
ness. It  was  not  her  fault,  good  soul,  that  her 
galettes  au  beurre  and  her  croquecignoles,  though 
truly  delicious,  were  not  quite  equal  to  those  I 
had  tasted  in  this  house  in  my  boyhood  days;  since 
—  even  my  wife  (for  I  have  a  wife  now)  —  even 
my  wife  scarce  makes  such  perfect  croquecignoles 
as  those  which  my  dear  mother  was  wont  to  have 
for  me  of  old  when  I  came  home  from  my  studies 
in  the  book-room  of  the  Recollets. 

This  I  confide  to  the  manuscript  before  me  with 
the  utmost  secrecy,  however;  and  if  the  reader 
chances  to  find  at  this  point  two  of  the  pages  adher- 
ing together,  he  will  know  the  reason  thereof.  Or, 
if  I  must  needs  explain,  well,  then,  I  will  set  down 
that  my  wife  has  a  spirit  of  her  own,  and  moreover 


368     A    DAUGHTER   OF   NEW  FRANCE 

she  is  proud  of  her  cookery.  Also,  like  my  brother 
Jacques,  I  am  somewhat  lacking  in  the  imperious 
manner  of  the  elder  Guyon,  and  my  wife  holds  me 
not  in  such  awe  as  my  good  mother  held  my  father; 
indeed,  she  holds  me  not  in  awe  at  all,  albeit,  I  will 
acknowledge,  my  lightest  word  has  weight  with  her. 
Yet  this,  she  says,  is  a  matter  of  love ;  and  with  her 
answer  I  am  more  than  content.  For  if  to  some  it 
may  appear  strange  that,  although  I  have  been  her 
husband  many  a  year,  she  loves  me  still,  and  I  am 
still  her  lover,  yet  so  it  is.  And  so  it  would  be, 
even  were  her  skill  at  making  croquecignoles  not 
half  so  notable  as  I  have  found  it. 

But  I  have  lapsed  into  the  present,  whereas  I 
should  be  writing  of  some  twenty  years  ago. 

On  the  morning  after  my  arrival  at  Quebec,  hav- 
ing made  one  or  two  visits  to  officials  in  the  inter- 
ests' of  La  Mothe,  I  set  out,  upon  Jacques'  bay  horse 
Lambreur,  for  Beauport  and  the  home  of  my  uncle, 
Francois  Guyon  of  the  Meadows,  as  he  was  often 
called. 

The  season  was  September,  and  as  I  took  the 
old  road  out  by  St.  John's  Gate,  I  looked  not  back 
at  the  gray  churches  and  monasteries,  the  grim 
Castle  and  Palace,  or  the  picturesque  houses  of  the 
town,  nor  yet  upon  the  yellowing  trees  of  the  gar- 
dens by  the  river,  but  kept  my  face  toward  the  open 
country,  and  urged  my  horse  to  greater  speed. 

Still  I  knew  that  the  valley  of  the  St.  Charles, 
winding  away  to  the  northwest,  was  fair,  and  the 
river  where  Jacques  Cartier  laid  up  his  ships  shone 
like  silver  in  the  sunlight. 

So  early  is  our  Canadian  autumn,  that  already  the 
hillsides  began  to  take  on  a  tinge  of  russet,  and 
across  toward  the  cleft  of  Montmorenci  the  maple 


AGAIN   THE   GALLANT   BOSTONNAIS   369 

groves  and  thickets  were  aflame  with  crimson  and 
gold,  as  if  Nature  had  lighted  a  mighty  camp-fire 
and  bidden  all  her  children  to  a  harvest  feast.  But 
I  am  getting  into  the  present  again ;  at  the  time  it 
was  not  of  feasting  I  thought,  and  the  forests,  so 
gorgeous  in  their  foliage,  seemed  to  me  then  as  so 
many  altars  whereon  were  lighted  sacrificial  fires  to 
the  Most  High. 

Their  splendor  too  was  half  veiled  in  a  soft  haze, 
and  how  gloriously  the  wealth  of  color  contrasted 
with  the  clear  blue  of  the  sky,  and  the  violet  mists 
that  hung  over  Cap  Tourmente  and  the  distant 
mountains ! 

The  road  had  been  well  travelled  all  summer,  and 
the  hoofs  of  Lambreur  rang  a  cheery  music  out  of 
the  hard  ground. 

After  an  hour's  riding  I  caught  sight  of  the  red 
chimneys  and  white  walls  of  my  uncle's  house  in 
the  valley.  Presently  I  should  be  again  face  to 
face  with  Francois  Guyon;  I  should  hear  his  hearty 
greeting,  and  feel  the  warm  clasp  of  his  hand. 
Here,  too,  I  should  find  the  Lady  of  Chateauguay, 
the  sweet  Babette  of  the  olden  time.  Yes,  she  had 
come  back  to  her  childhood's  home  to  help  to  soothe 
the  last  days  of  my  aunt,  —  for  the  good  Dame 
Guyon  was  no  more.  Barbe,  however,  had  stayed 
on,  I  had  been  told,  to  comfort  the  grief  of  my 
uncle  with  a  daughter's  love.  Anon  I  should  see 
her;  should  note  the  sheen  of  her  fair  hair,  the 
flush  of  her  cheek,  the  light  of  her  eyes;  should 
hear  her  blithe  voice  speak  my  name  in  happy- 
hearted  welcome.  But  —  my  spirits  sank  as  I 
brought  myself  back  from  my  reverie  and  reined  in 
Lambreur  from  the  mad  gallop  to  which  I  had 
spurred  him.  The  truth  confronted  me  once  more. 
24 


370     A    DAUGHTER   OF   NEW   FRANCE 

I  should  see  Barbe  at  Beauport;  I  might  take  her 
hand  in  mine  for  a  moment,  and  even  press  a  kiss 
upon  those  white  fingers  in  cavalier  fashion;  I  might 
spend  the  afternoon  in  talking  to  her;  nevertheless, 
we  should  be  still  as  far  from  each  other  as  when 
separated  by  the  leagues  of  wilderness  that  lie  be- 
tween Fort  Pontchartrain  and  Quebec,  more  apart 
even  than  when  I  came  from  France  and  found  she 
had  married  the  noble  Le  Moyne  and  was  already 
his  widow. 

Now  it  was  not  the  memory  of  Chateauguay  that 
stood  between  us;  it  was  a  living  man.  I  should 
find  Barbe  at  Beauport,  but  I  should  find  her,  as  she 
was  when  I  saw  her  last  at  Le  Detroit,  the  promised 
wife  of  the  Bostonnais  officer,  whom  she  had  released 
from  the  blockhouse  prison. 

This  reflection  was  like  a  dash  of  cold  water  in 
the  face  of  a  man  hot  with  wine.  It  cooled  the  ex- 
hilaration of  my  fancy,  and  sobered  me  to  the  reali- 
ties of  life.  The  landscape  lost  something  of  its 
poetic  charm,  and  took  on  a  garish  aspect  in  the  full 
sunlight  of  noon. 

I  went  on  more  leisurely,  and  my  thoughts  trav- 
elled back  to  the  day  when  I  first  met  our  Sieur 
Cadillac  as  a  suitor  for  pretty  Therese.  At  about 
the  same  hour  I  had  arrived,  and  now  as  I  drew  rein 
at  the  door  I  recalled  how  on  that  day  my  friend 
Robert  de  Reaume  came  hurriedly  out  of  the  house, 
and  my  young  boy  cousins  clamorously  dashed 
around  the  corner  to  greet  me. 

I  remembered  how  little  Barbe  ran  forth  from 
within  and  clung  to  my  arm,  half  shyly,  yet  with 
the  frank,  ingenuous  liking  of  a  child. 

How  strong  is  the  force  of  association  !  To-day  I 
looked  about  for  Robert,  though  I  knew  him  to  be 


AGAIN   THE   GALLANT   BOSTONNAIS   371 

in  Montreal,  where  I  had  seen  him  a  few  days 
before.  The  boys  were  away  on  the  high  seas,  for 
they  followed  the  calling  of  their  father. 

A  silence  hung  over  the  place;  the  yard  was  de- 
serted. Slowly  I  dismounted,  and  stood  a  moment 
in  indecision  upon  the  doorstone.  Should  I  call,  or 
lead  my  horse  to  the  stable,  and  returning,  enter  un- 
announced this  my  second  home  of  former  times  ? 

Were  they  all  dead,  that  such  silence  reigned?  I 
retained  my  grasp  upon  the  bridle  of  Lambreur,  and 
took  a  step  upon  the  path. 

As  I  did  so,  there  was  a  faint  sound  in  the  house 
as  of  some  one  approaching  through  the  hall;  a 
struggle  of  some  one  with  the  bar  that  secured  the 
heavy  cedar  panels ;  the  next  moment  the  door  was 
thrown  open,  and  involuntarily  I  uttered  an  ex- 
clamation of  joy. 

For  there  in  the  doorway  stood  the  lady  of  my 
thoughts !  Again  Barbe  had  come  hastening  to  bid 
me  welcome,  —  Barbe,  no  longer  a  child,  but  the 
loveliest  woman  in  New  France ! 

Am  I  so  much  to  blame  that  in  this  moment  I 
forgot  all  but  her  sweet  self;  forgot  that  it  was 
Francois  Guyon  I  had  come  especially  to  see,  or  so 
I  had  told  myself!  forgot  the  Bostonnais,  and  all 
the  world,  save  that  here  was  Barbe  whom  I  loved,  — 
Barbe,  radiant  in  her  youthful  beauty  with  the  sun- 
light falling  upon  her  as  if  it  singled  her  out,  as  she 
stood  in  the  open  doorway,  the  dim  interior  of  the 
old  house  forming  a  charming  background  to  her 
graceful  figure  and  blushing,  piquant  face? 

"  Barbe  ! "   I  cried  joyously.     "  Barbe ! " 

And  before  I  well  knew  what  I  was  doing,  I  had 
caught  her  in  my  arms  and  kissed  her. 

A   moment  her   beautiful   head  rested   upon   my 


372     A   DAUGHTER    OF   NEW   FRANCE 

breast;  then,  with  a  little  ripple  of  merriment,  she 
gently  pushed  me  away,  her  jewelled  hand  flashed 
before  my  eyes,  and  I  felt  a  light  blow  on  the  cheek, 
like  the  sting  of  a  gnat,  whereat  I  laughed  right 
heartily. 

I  tied  my  horse  to  a  tree  opposite  to  the  entrance, 
and  went  into  the  farmhouse  with  her. 

"  Normand,  how  you  frighted  me !  "  she  said,  as 
she  drew  me  along  the  passage.  "  Are  you  a  ghost, 
or  your  proper  self?  A  letter  from  Therese  told  us 
we  might  look  for  you  some  three  weeks  hence;  we 
go  little  to  Quebec  nowadays,  and  your  brother  did 
not  send  us  word  that  you  were  expected  earlier." 

"There  was  short  time,"  I  answered.  "He  was 
apprised  by  a  voyageur  only  the  day  before." 

I  was  strongly  tempted  to  kiss  her  again,  while 
we  paused  for  this  conversation.  But  now  I  remem- 
bered the  Bostonnais;  and  though  I  could  not  but  be 
amused  at  her  chastisement  of  my  boldness,  I  had 
no  mind  to  provoke  her  resentment. 

With  the  gayety  of  a  child,  she  once  more  put  her 
hand  in  mine  and  led  me  into  the  hearth-room,  the 
heart  of  the  house,  where  in  the  wide  chimney 
glowed  a  stout  pine  log  even  on  that  day.  The 
people  of  New  France  guard  themselves  well  against 
the  chill  that  sometimes  creeps  into  the  dwellings 
during  the  early  days  of  the  changing  leaves,  as  well 
as  at  the  budding  of  the  trees;  moreover,  my  uncle 
Guyon  on  his  last  sea  voyage  had  contracted  a 
rheumatism  which  made  him  fonder  of  the  "corner 
of  the  fire "  than  he  was  of  old. 

For  whereas  in  other  times,  after  his  midday 
meal  and  pipe  of  tobacco,  he  was  ever  away  to  his 
fields  or  his  ship,  now  he  often  dozed  through  the 
afternoon  by  the  hearth. 


AGAIN    THE    GALLANT   BOSTONNAIS   373 

Here  we  found  him  in  his  great  chair,  only  half 
aroused  by  the  slight  commotion  that  followed  my 
arrival. 

"  Normand,  is  it  indeed  you,  or  am  I  dreaming  of 
my  dear  ones  of  Le  Detroit?"  he  exclaimed,  rub- 
bing his  eyes,  and  sitting  erect  with  astonishment. 

"Heaven  be  thanked,  it  is  no  dream  that  I  am 
here,  my  uncle,"  I  responded,  clasping  the  hand  he 
stretched  out  to  me. 

He  drew  me  down  to  him  and  kissed  me  on  both 
cheeks,  after  the  hearty  Norman  fashion  among  the 
men  as  well  as  with  the  women  of  a  family  when 
they  meet  after  a  long  separation. 

"You  are  well  come  truly,  my  nephew,"  he  cried. 
"Now  we  will  wake  the  old  house  up  again,  and 
have  merry-making  and  good  cheer.  Babette,  my 
daughter,  order  dinner  for  the  lad.  Ah,  Normand," 
—  here  the  jovial  light  died  out  of  his  countenance, 
and  he  rubbed  his  eyes  again  as  if  a  mist  had  come 
over  them,  though  his  lips  still  smiled, — "Ah, 
Normand,  't  is,  I  fear,  but  meagre  comfort  we  can 
offer  you,  after  all.  You  miss  the  presence  of  your 
aunt,  boy.  I  see  it  by  the  tristful  look  of  your 
face.  She  is  gone,  and  there  is  small  content 
about  the  house.  You  would  scarce  know  it  for 
the  same." 

"Well  I  know  there  is  none  can  fill  my  aunt 
Guyon's  place,  sir,"  I  made  answer  somewhat 
hoarsely.  "  Yet  "  —  here  I  glanced  at  Barbe,  and 
from  her  my  gaze  strayed  around  the  bright,  pleas- 
antly ordered  room, —  "Yet  it  would  seem  to  my 
inexperienced  eye,  that  her  daughters,  trained  in  her 
thrifty,  comfort-making  ways,  keep  bravely  up  the 
household,  even  as  she  would  have  it." 

"Ay,    they   do  excellently  for  their  youth,"  he 


374     A    DAUGHTER   OF    NEW    FRANCE 

replied  with  an  effort  to  be  cheerful  again.  "In 
sooth,  they  are  most  tender  in  their  care  for  me. 
But,  Normand,  when  in  the  autumn  of  his  life 
a  man  loses  the  friend  (1'amie)  and  companion 
whom  God  gave  him  in  the  Eden  of  its  springtime; 
when  she,  the  mother  of  his  children,  she  who  is 
as  the  key  of  his  house,  is  taken  from  him,  — 
even  though  he  rebels  not  against  Providence,  for 
him  ever  after  the  sunshine  has  lost  something  of 
its  brightness ;  and  to  him  the  hearth-fire  seems 
to  glow  coldly,  though  for  others  it  has  a  ruddy 
heat. 

"Often  enough  I  sailed  away  for  the  Spanish 
main  and  into  the  jaws  of  danger,  with  small 
thought  that  I  left  my  good  wife,  Marguerite  Mar- 
solet,  alone,  and  with  much  to  worry  her.  Now 
that  she  has  left  me,  I  find  no  comfort  anywhere. 
Tut,  give  no  heed  to  my  complaining.  I  am  an 
ungrateful  old  churl  to  my  children  married  in 
Beauport,  who  give  me  their  company  daily,  and 
to  Miladi  here.  Come  to  your  dinner,  lad,  and  let 
us  be  cheery.  Barbe,  my  dear,  pour  for  your  cousin 
a  goblet  of  wine;  and  now  fill  me  out  another,  that 
I  may  drink  to  him  good  fortune.  Saw  ever  man  a 
fairer  cup-bearer,  eh,  Normand  ?  I  am  not  going  to 
keep  her  shut  up  in  Beauport,  nor  must  she  always 
remain  a  widow,  eh?  So  I  often  tell  her,  and  at 
last  I  have  brought  her  round  to  my  way  of  think- 
ing, I  opine." 

My  uncle  winked  both  eyes  at  me  significantly. 
It  was  his  way  of  expressing  a  confidential  attitude, 
and  was  most  ludicrous. 

I  was  glad  to  see  him  thus  cast  off  his  melan- 
choly, but  I  remarked  too  how,  at  these  last  words 
of  his,  Miladi  of  Chateauguay's  color  deepened,  and 


AGAIN   THE    GALLANT   BOSTONNAIS    375 

I  knew  he  referred  to  the  Bostonnais  whom  she  was 
soon  to  wed. 

Scarce  conscious  of  the  lapse  of  time,  the  good 
man  still  called  me  lad,  albeit  only  that  morning  I 
had  noted  some  threads  of  gray  among  the  locks 
which  Barbe  once  called  so  black.  Seldom  did  I 
affect  the  peruque,  though  often  I  wore  my  hair 
powdered.  On  this  occasion,  however,  it  had  been 
my  fancy  to  go  down  to  Beauport  showing  in  my 
attire  at  least  as  little  change  as  might  be  from 
the  time  when  I  was  wont  to  ride  there  frequently. 
My  gaze  turned  toward  the  place  where  La  Mothe 
stood  beside  the  hearth  on  the  day  when  I  first  met 
him  here.  Again  with  the  eyes  of  my  mind  I  saw 
him,  handsome,  debonair,  ardent,  yet  with  a  re- 
spectful grace,  bending  his  head  to  speak  in  an 
undertone  words  of  love  to  my  sister  Therese, 
whose  face  sank  lower  and  lower  over  her  tambour 
frame, —  Therese,  then,  to  my  thinking,  the  prettiest 
demoiselle  in  the  world ;  Therese,  who  was  still  so 
fair  in  her  serene,  matronly  comeliness  —  but  now 
my  eyes  turned  back  to  Barbe,  and  I  smiled  to  my- 
self, for  now  my  ideal  of  womanly  loveliness  was 
—  well,  it  was  Barbe. 

A  Pani  woman  brought  food  and  put  it  upon  the 
table.  There  was  a  meat  pasty,  if  I  mistake  not, 
and  the  half  of  a  capon,  perchance,  with  sundry 
relishes.  My  uncle  forced  me  to  sit  down  to  them,  — 
though  I  had  small  appetite,  both  because  it  was 
feast  enough  to  be  there,  with  Miladi  pressing  the 
dishes  upon  me,  and  also  because  my  brother's  wife 
was  right,  I  was  not  yet  altogether  robust. 

I  strove  to  cover  my  deficiencies  as  to  hunger, 
however,  by  entering  into  an  animated  recital  of 
the  news  of  Fort  Pontchartrain,  and  so  enlivened 


376     A    DAUGHTER    OF   NEW    FRANCE 

waxed  our  conversation  that  erelong  my  uncle  be- 
came quite  like  his  whilom  self.  Indeed,  more  than 
once  he  broke  into  a  breezy  laugh,  and  slapped  his 
thigh  in  his  old  sailor  fashion,  when  something 
pleased  him. 

"  Normand,  it  has  done  me  good  to  see  you,  lad," 
he  said,  when  I  ventured  to  rise  from  the  board. 
"  It  has  made  me  feel  a  good  ten  years  younger.  I 
will  go  down  to  the  wharves  and  look  about  me. 
You  must  stay  with  us,  of  course." 

"Thanks,  my  uncle,  the  interests  of  Monsieur  de 
Cadillac  require  that  I  take  up  my  quarters  in  Que- 
bec," I  made  answer.  "I  must  return  thither  this 
evening,  but,  if  you  will  have  me,  I  will  ride  down 
to  Beauport  for  an  hour  or  more  to-morrow." 

"  Chut,  chut !  This  arrangement  of  your  staying 
in  Quebec  is  not  to  my  liking,"  he  grumbled. 
"  Still,  do  as  you  think  best,  only  —  you  must  come 
to  us  as  often  as  may  be." 

Ready  enough  was  I  to  give  him  this  promise. 

"Well,  well,  I  will  be  back  ere  you  are  half  done 
with  telling  Barbe  the  social  gossip  of  Le  Detroit," 
he  continued,  getting  out  of  his  chair.  "It  is  but 
just,  too,  that  she  should  have  a  chance  to  question 
you  concerning  the  doings  of  Therese  and  the  chil- 
dren. Heard  you  aught  of  an  English  officer  when 
you  were  there,  nephew,  and  of  his  escape  from  the 
blockhouse  ?  And  heard  you  aught  of  a  fair  lady 
who  helped  him  to  escape,  and  chose  to  consider 
herself  under  sentence  of  banishment  from  that  day 
forth?  Eh  bien,  it  is  an  ill  tide  which  brings  not 
luck  to  some  harbor,  and  this  tide  was  more  wel- 
come at  Beauport  than  any  that  ever  brought  in 
Spanish  galleon  or  English  merchantman.  Eh 
bien,  eh  bien !  My  chapeau,  Babette,  and  a  kiss, 


AGAIN   THE    GALLANT   BOSTONNAIS    377 

my  dear.     Thank   you  for  both.     Au  revoir,  Nor- 
mand,  au  revoir." 

With  a  chuckle  the  old  man  went  out,  leaving  me 
to  as  cosy  a  tete-a-tete  with  the  Lady  of  Chateau- 
guay  as  I  had  wished  for. 

After  his  departure  I  stood  for  a  moment  staring 
into  the  fire. 

"Sit  you  here,"  said  Miladi,  motioning  me  to  the 
high-backed  chair  of  my  uncle,  while  she  sank  into 
the  arms  of  its  companion  on  the  opposite  side  of 
the  hearth.  "  Normand,  you  are  pale,  you  eat 
scarce  anything,  for  all  your  lingering  over  the 
viands;  you  must  have  been  more  seriously  ill  than 
they  would  admit  to  me." 

"  Oh,  mayhap  I  was  not  a  Samson  in  strength  for 
awhile,"  I  made  answer  lightly;  "but  now,  thank 
God,  my  grasp  upon  my  blade  is  well-nigh  as  firm 
as  ever  it  was.  My  native  air,  with  the  whiff  of 
sea  breeze  that  comes  up  the  river  now  and  again, 
together  with  the  sight  of  you,  madame,  will  soon 
prove  all  the  tonic  I  need." 

"  A  '  bon  mot, '  cousin.  You  have  improved  some- 
what in  the  art  of  compliment,"  laughed  Barbe, 
roguishly. 

"Perhaps  because  I  have  had  leisure  to  study  it," 
I  replied  simply. 

Miladi  caught  her  breath  and  looked  down  at  the 
marigolds  she  had  taken  from  the  vase  on  the  table 
'and  was  wantonly  tearing  to  pieces.  Then  pres- 
ently raising  her  eyes  and  fixing  them  upon  me,  she 
said,  leaning  a  little  toward  me,  — 

"Tell  me  about  it,  Normand.  Le  Detroit,  alas, 
how  different  it  must  be  without  Frere  Constantin ! " 

It  being  her  will  to  hear,  I  told  her  how  the  Recol- 


378     A    DAUGHTER    OF   NEW   FRANCE 

let  had  fallen  a  victim  to  his  friendship  for  me,  and 
his  kindness  toward  the  children  of  the  forest. 

There  were  tears  in  her  sweet  eyes  and  upon  her 
cheeks  when  I  paused,  and  although  I  had  passed 
over  with  but  few  words  the  small  part  I  played  in 
the  incidents  of  the  day,  she  returned  to  it  again 
and  again,  and  beset  me  with  inquiries  as  to  the 
duration  of  my  illness. 

"Ah,  Normand,  Normand,  I  did  not  know,"  she 
repeated.  "I  had  come  here  to  care  for  mother 
Guyon.  Had  I  known  you  were  lying  near  unto 
death  at  Le  Detroit  —  " 

"What  would  you  have  done,  Barbe?"  I  could 
not  refrain  from  asking. 

"  Ah,  what  indeed  ?  "  she  cried  piteously,  wring- 
ing her  hands.  "My  mother!  You!  My  heart 
would  have  been  torn  with  anguish.  Did  you  not 
think  hardly  of  me  because  I  remained  away  from 
Fort  Pontchartrain  during  all  that  distressful 
time? " 

"I  missed  you  sadly;  so  much  I  will  acknowl- 
edge," I  said  easily.  "And  I  had  no  intelligence 
of  the  loving  duty  that  kept  you  here  at  Beauport." 

"  Pray,  what  was  your  opinion  of  me  then  ? "  she 
insisted. 

"  My  opinion  ?  'T  was  what  it  has  always  been,  — 
that  you  are  the  sweetest  and  loveliest  woman  in 
the  world,  Barbe." 

"Nonsense!"  said  Barbe;  but  she  gave  a  little 
sigh  of  content,  as  if  a  weight  had  slipped  off  her 
spirits. 

"And, — and, — what  else  did  you  think?"  she 
went  on  naively. 

"I  am  past  the  age  of  day-dreams,"  I  rejoined, 
coming  to  myself,  "so  I  only  tried  to  accustom  my- 


AGAIN   THE    GALLANT    BOSTONNAIS    379 

self  to  the  sternness  of  life's  realities.  I  thought  of 
the  gallant  Bostonnais  officer  whose  life  you  saved. 
I  recalled  how  ardently  you  begged  my  help;  the 
spirit  with  which  you  braved  the  anger  of  Mon- 
sieur de  Cadillac,  both  in  the  council  and  by 
compassing  the  escape  that  so  chagrined  him.  I 
thought  of  the  Englishman  so  eager  to  return  to 
Quebec  when  peace  comes,  that  he  may  claim  you; 
I  pictured  the  wedding  festivities  here  in  the  old 
house  —  " 

"Say  no  more  of  the  Bostonnais,  I  beg  of  you," 
broke  in  Miladi,  imperiously. 

I  looked  at  her  in  astonishment. 

"  Love  is  a  jealous  taskmaster,"  I  answered  dryly, 
"  but  the  war  between  France  and  England  is  not 
over.  The  Bostonnais  is  an  honorable  man,  and  if  he 
come  not,  I  dare  say,  it  is  not  his  fault. " 

"Pray,  why  should  he  come?"  cried  Barbe,  start- 
ing to  her  feet,  while  her  blue  eyes  flashed  and  a 
deep  color  burned  in  her  cheeks. 

"  Why  ? "  I  echoed,  rising  too.  "  Are  you  not  his 
affianced  wife,  Barbe?  Have  you  not  promised  to 
wed,  and  to  follow  him  to  the  south,  as  a  wife  must 
leave  her  people  to  go  with  her  husband  ?  " 

"  No,  no,  no ! "  she  reiterated  vehemently,  and 
sank  back  into  her  chair. 

"  But  he  acknowledged  to  me  that  he  loved  you ; 
he  vowed  that  his  dearest  hope  was  to  make  you  his 
wife,"  I  persisted.  "  Surely  he  told  you?  " 

Barbe  sighed.  "Oh  yes,  the  Bostonnais  are  not 
such  laggards  in  these  matters  as  are  others  I  have 
seen,"  she  said. 

"  He  told  you  of  his  love ;  he  asked  you  to  be  his 
wife!  You  are  not  betrothed,  yet  you  admitted  to 
me  that  you  loved  him,"  I  continued,  perplexed. 


380     A    DAUGHTER   OF   NEW    FRANCE 

Barbe  shook  her  head. 

"No,  no!  It  was  you  who  said  so,"  she  protested, 
studying  the  fragments  of  the  blossoms  once  more. 

"  You  will  not  marry  the  Englishman,  then  ?  " 

"No,  although  he  is  a  noble  gentleman,"  she  re- 
plied softly. 

"Barbe,  you  cannot  understand  how  happy  you 
have  made  me  by  telling  me  this,"  I  exclaimed, 
striding  over  to  her  side. 

Miladi  still  kept  her  eyes  cast  down,  and  toyed 
with  the  petals  of  the  flower. 

There  was  a  brief  silence  between  us,  but  the 
while,  her  little  Spanish  slipper  tapped  the  floor 
impatiently. 


CHAPTER  TWENTY-EIGHTH 

SWEET  AS  THE  ARBUTUS   BLOSSOM 

"  T>  ARBE,  are  you  not  coming  back  again  to  The- 

-D  rese  at  Le  Detroit?"  I  queried  stupidly,  at 
length. 

"No,  Monsieur  Normand." 

"  La  Mothe  no  longer  cherishes  resentment  toward 
you  for  the  chagrin  you  caused  him  by  freeing  the 
Bostonnais,"  I  blundered  on. 

"I  am  not  afraid  of  Monsieur  de  Cadillac,"  Ma- 
dame de  Chateauguay  made  answer  with  spirit.  "  Yet 
I  —  "  Here  she  shot  a  sidelong  look  at  me.  "In 
truth,  Normand,  I  may  as  well  tell  you  —  of  late  I 
have  thought  much  of  the  convent  again.  My  heart 
has  been  so  oppressed  with  loneliness  that,  the  last 
time  I  was  in  Quebec,  I  went  to  Mere  Angelique  de 
St.  Jean,  at  the  Ursulines,  and  prayed  her  to  receive 
me  among  her  daughters." 

"Barbe,  Barbe,"  I  cried  aghast,  and  thereupon 
launched  into  a  torrent  of  exhortation,  begging  her 
to  reconsider,  to  be  not  over-hasty,  —  even  as  I  had 
in  the  early  days  of  her  widowhood. 

She  listened  most  demurely,  with  bent  head,  and 
pressing  to  her  lips  her  little  lace  handkerchief  as  if 
she  would  choke  back  a  sob;  at  times  her  graceful 
form  even  shook  with  emotion. 

At  length,  to  my  amazement,  when  I  stopped  a 
moment  for  breath,  she  broke  into  a  peal  of  merry 
laughter. 


382     A    DAUGHTER    OF    NEW  FRANCE 

"Spare  your  eloquence,  cousin,"  she  counselled, 
brushing  her  flushed  cheek  with  the  filmy  bit  of 
lace.  "  Spare  your  eloquence,  at  least  until  you 
hear  the  end  of  my  story. 

"The  Reverend  Mother  gave  no  encouragement 
to  my  fancy.  She  said  my  vocation  was  to  live  in 
'the  world  '  (so  the  good  nuns  call  our  part  of  God's 
creation,  they  who  dwell  upon  the  borderland  of 
Heaven).  Yes,  she  was  very  kind;  she  said  I  was 
meant  for  the  happiness  of  the  world;  that  I  would 
indeed  find  thorns  among  my  roses,  but  at  least  I 
should  have  the  roses." 

"  A  sensible  woman,  forsooth  !  "  I  ejaculated  with 
satisfaction.  "And  now,  Miladi,  I  presume  you 
will  proceed  to  gather  your  roses  ?  " 

"I  do  not  know,"  stammered  Barbe,  spreading  out 
the  little  lace  handkerchief  upon  her  knees. 

I  have  only  a  hazy  recollection  of  the  sort  of  dress 
she  wore  on  that  day,  but  I  have  since  been  told 
it  was  a  purple  and  gold  gown  of  Atlas  silk  with 
a  petticoat  of  mauve  Atlas,  edged  with  gold. 

"  Perchance  the  worthy  lady  had  heard  of  the 
Bostonnais,"  I  said  savagely.  "Roses  grow  better 
in  the  southern  provinces  than  with  us !  Unless, 
indeed,  you  will  return  to  Le  Detroit,  where,  as  you 
know  well,  the  beautiful  rose  of  the  prairie  twines  in 
gay  luxuriance  around  the  door  arches,  and  makes  of 
the  roughest  stake-house  a  bower  of  beauty.  For 
me,  I  have  never  wished  to  walk  through  the  rose 
gardens  of  life;  its  sweetest  paths  have  ever  seemed 
to  me,  Barbe,  those  we  trod  together  long  ago,  when 
we  went  across  the  rocky  places  and  into  the  woods 
seeking  the  fragrant  arbutus.  Would  you  be  will- 
ing to  exchange  your  roses  for  the  sweet-breathed 
May-flower,  Barbe?" 


SWEET  AS  THE  ARBUTUS  BLOSSOM    383 

Miladi's  head  sank  lower. 

"Mere  Angelique  said  nothing  about  the  arbu- 
tus," she  answered  with  averted  face;  yet  there  was 
a  laugh  in  her  voice  that  emboldened  me. 

"The  arbutus  has  not  the  thorns  of  the  rose,"  I 
went  on. 

"But  it  belongs  to  the  May-time,  and  the  May- 
time  is  passed,"  she  argued. 

"It  belongs  to  all  seasons,"  I  insisted.  "Have 
we  not  found  it,  with  its  shining  green  leaves,  living 
and  hardy  even  beneath  our  Canadian  snows,  its 
sweetness  stored  in  its  valiant  little  heart  to  be  one 
day  given  forth  to  those  who  await  the  gift  with 
patience?  " 

I  had  seated  myself  upon  an  arm  of  madame's 
great  chair;  but  as  she  persistently  kept  her  face 
away  from  me,  I  had  addressed  myself  to  her  tower 
of  fair  hair  which  she  wore  in  several  rows  of  close 
curls  about  her  face, —  a  fashion  named  (I  have  since 
learned)  'a  la  Maintenon, '  from  its  adoption  by  that 
beautiful  and  virtuous  lady  at  the  time  the  King 
first  noticed  her.  But,  albeit  I  had  indited  more 
than  one  rondeau  to  Miladi's  bright  tresses,  they 
could  give  me  no  index  of  her  mind  or  humor. 
Neither  was  I  inclined  to  bend  to  her  even  then. 
No,  she  must  look  up  to  me. 

Accordingly  I  straightened  myself  before  her. 

"Barbe,"  I  said,  "listen  to  me;  look  at  me." 

Thereupon  she  turned  toward  me,  and  raised  her 
eyes  to  mirte  in  the  half-roguish,  half-deprecating 
manner  with  which  she  had  often  heard  me  when 
she  was  a  child. 

"Barbe,"  I  went  on,  "long  ago,  when  we  went 
a-Maying, —  I  an  awkward  boy,  you  a  dainty  little 
demoiselle, —  do  you  remember  that  you  always 


384     A    DAUGHTER   OF   NEW   FRANCE 

searched  for  the  arbutus  because  I  loved  it  and 
you  would  fain  give  it  to  me  ? " 

"Yes,  yes,"  she  assented  readily. 

"  I  will  remind  you  why  I  loved  it.  One  day  of 
the  spring-time,  when  I  was  a  small  lad,  I  stood 
in  this  room  watching  my  aunt  Guyon  making 
croquecignoles. 

"  Of  a  sudden  the  door  yonder  burst  open,  and 
there  in  the  doorway  stood  the  bronze  figure  of  an 
Indian.  In  his  arms  was  the  fairest  little  child  I 
ever  beheld,  a  baby  maid  who  stretched  out  her  tiny 
hands  to  my  aunt,  as  if  sent  to  her  by  Providence, 
as  indeed  was  the  truth. 

"  When  the  Indian  was  gone,  my  aunt  set  the 
pretty  creature  upon  her  knees,  and  I  knelt  at  her 
feet,  admiring  the  beauty  of  the  little  Bostonnaise, 
for  such  Dame  Guyon  said  she  was.  But  to  me 
she  was  ever  just  a  May-flower  from  the  dark  forest; 
like  the  arbutus  she  was  sweet  and  fair,  with  its  own 
delicate  blush,  and  her  bright  hair  minded  me  of  a 
ray  of  sunshine  falling  upon  the  forest  blossoms. 

"  I  loved  her  from  that  day,  although,  as  the  years 
slipped  away,  I  knew  not  when  in  my  heart  affec- 
tion for  the  child  changed  to  devotion  to  the  woman. 
When  I  saw  her  paid  court  to  by  many  cavaliers,  I 
did  not  understand  that  my  moroseness  at  the  sight 
arose  from  jealousy.  I  did  not  know  that  I  loved 
her  with  all  my  soul  until  I  learned  that  another 
had  won  this  exquisite  May-flower.  In  the  same 
hour  wherein  I  became  conscious  of  the  passionate 
love  which  had  entwined  itself  around  every  fibre  of 
my  nature,  I  was  confronted  with  the  realization 
that  in  honor  I  must  crush  it  down,  must  pluck  it 
out  and  cast  it  away,  or  it  would  become  a  noisome 
weed. 


SWEET  AS  THE  ARBUTUS  BLOSSOM   385 

"After  I  had  struggled  with  myself  for  weeks,  I 
came  home.  For  the  gallant  bridegroom  fate  had 
decreed  that  the  beauty  of  this  May-flower  should 
be  but  as  the  fair  white  snow-blossom  he  wore 
upon  his  breast;  its  sweetness  but  enwreathed  his 
memory. 

"At  this  knowledge,  the  love  which  I  supposed  I 
had  plucked  out  of  my  heart  grew  again;  I  thought 
to  reveal  it,  to  reach  out  for  the  May-flower,  to  vie 
with  others  to  win  it,  like  the  eager  young  lover 
of  Alpine  lands  who,  outrivalling  all  competitors, 
climbs  the  rocky  precipice,  to  gain  the  pure  and 
snow-white  edelweiss. 

"But  ah,  love  abounds  in  honey  and  poison! 
Those  who  strove  against  me  had  so  much  more 
to  offer  than  I;  and  ever  I  said  to  myself,  'Some 
clay  I  will  do  some  noble  deed.  Then,  when  I  have 
attained  success  and  honors  and  wealth,  I  will  go 
to  Miladi,  —  to  Miladi  who  as  a  little  child  went 
a-Maying  with  me;  who  as  a  young  demoiselle,  un- 
thinking, and  as  she  might  have  culled  the  blooms 
of  her  garden  plot,  gathered  the  best  affections  of 
my  heart  only  to  cast  them  aside;  to  Miladi,  who 
now,  as  a  widow,  graces  one  of  the  proudest  names 
of  New  France,  and  therefore  is  not  to  be  lightly 
wooed  nor  easily  won. 

"Time  passed,"  I  continued,  for  Barbe's  eyes 
were  fixed  upon  me  with  a  gracious  interest.  "I 
have  seen  many  adventures  without  having  gained 
distinction,  since  to  face  dangers  unflinchingly  is 
but  the  usual  lot  of  the  man  who,  taking  his  life  in 
his  hand,  plunges  into  an  unknown  country.  With 
our  Sieur  I  have  wandered  far  and  wide,  yet  my 
boyish  dreams  of  achieving  fame  and  fortune  have 
been  in  no  degree  attained.  I  have  been  but  a 
25 


386     A    DAUGHTER    OF    NEW    FRANCE 

wooer  of  Nature  in  the  wilderness  because  of  her 
own  loveliness  and  the  spell  it  cast  upon  me.  Per- 
chance I  lacked  the  greatness  of  soul  that  inclines 
to  brilliant  deeds.  I  am  still  obscure,  unknown, 
and  have  little  wealth.  Parnassus  has  no  gold 
mines,  and  I  have  dwelt  too  much  among  the 
clouds.  This  being  so,  I  had  thought  never  to  say 
what  I  have  said  to-day.  Dearest  Barbe,  I  thought 
you  betrothed  to  the  Bostonnais.  I  ever  supposed 
that  he  won  your  girlish  fancy  on  the  day  when  first 
he  met  you.  I  surmised  that  at  his  coming  to  Le 
Detroit  the  interest  he  had  long  ago  awakened 
burst  into  flame  again,  since  old  loves  like  olcj 
brands  readily  rekindle. 

"It  is  bliss,  indeed,  to  find  myself  mistaken. 
Once  before  I  told  you  of  my  love,  Barbe !  Now  I 
tell  you  that  I  have  worshipped  and  reverenced  you 
from  the  hour  when  first  I  knew  what  it  is  to  love. 
Will  you  be  my  wife,  Babette?  Will  you  share  my 
life,  humble  as  it  is?  " 

As  I  spoke  these  last  words,  I  took  Miladi's 
hands  in  mine  and  drew  her  up  to  me. 

But  when  I  would  have  clasped  her  in  my  arms, 
she  held  me  off,  her  palms  resting  against  my 
breast,  her  rosy  face  averted. 

"  Phouff !  For  one  whose  pride  has  rendered  him 
so  slow  to  place  the  decision  with  me,  you  are  in 
over-much  of  a  hurry  to  receive  your  answer,  sir," 
she  said.  "  I  will  think  over  what  you  have  told 
me,  and  let  you  know  my  mind  in  the  course  of  a 
year  or  two." 

Thereat  she  nodded  her  pretty  head,  and  looked 
me  in  the  eyes  with  a  merry  glance. 

"Be  generous,  Barbe,"  I  cried.  "If  I  have  kept 
my  love  for  you  locked  in  my  own  heart,  I  wronged 


SWEET  AS  THE  ARBUTUS  BLOSSOM   387 

no  one  but  myself  by  so  doing.  Let  me  hear  my 
fate,  I  beg  of  you!  Give  me  at  least  a  moiety  of 
hope!  " 

Perhaps  it  was  the  look  Miladi  vouchsafed  me, 
which  resigned  me  to  a  small  degree  of  patience, 
as  she  forced  me  to  sit  down  again,  this  time  upon 
the  settle,  it  being  nearest,  and  then  seating  her- 
self, piled  up  between  us  its  cushions  of  silk  patch- 
work and  pillows  of  fir  balsam  ere  she  would  say 
more. 

"Now  listen  to  me,  Normand, "  she  began  at  last, 
when  I  had  tacitly  submitted  to  endure  my  suspense 
with  as  much  fortitude  as  might  be. 

"  When  I  was  a  child,  a  certain  handsome  youth 
was  kind  to  me,  and  took  much  trouble  for  my  sake. 
We  were  friends  in  those  days.  He  went  away, 
and  I  grew  to  be  a  tall  young  maid,  and  then  a 
woman.  After  a  while  he  came  back,  but  he  was 
changed.  Nothing  I  did  pleased  him.  He  cared 
not  for  me  himself,  it  seemed,  yet  he  wished  not  to 
have  any  one  else  care;  he  would  not  have  me  speak 
with  or  smile  upon  any  one." 

"An  audacious  wretch  he  was,  in  faith,"  I  inter- 
posed contritely.  But  she  shook  her  finger  at  me 
in  token  that  I  must  be  silent. 

"I  —  I  would  have  been  as  demure  as  he  wished, 
if  by  so  doing  I  could  have  gained  his  approval," 
she  pursued.  "Yet  when  I  dismissed  my  cavaliers, 
he  took  me  to  task  for  that  also.  He  set  out  for 
the  northwest.  After  a  time  he  came  again.  He 
was  more  like  his  old  self,  but  soon  he  went  to 
France.  His  every  action  showed  that  he  was  in- 
different to  me." 

"  Nonsense,  Barbe,  how  could  that  be  ?  "  I  inter- 
rupted once  more ;  but  again  she  checked  me. 


388     A   DAUGHTER    OF   NEW   FRANCE 

"  There  was  one,"  and  here  her  voice  shook  as  even 
thus  indirectly  she  recalled  Le  Moyne, — "There 
was  one  who  loved  me  well,  who  had  loved  me  long. 
My  mother,  good  Dame  Guyon,  urged  me  much  to 
marry;  I  had  bought  my  right  to  live  in  New 
France  by  a  promise  to  Comte  Frontenac  that  I 
would  take  a  husband  in  Quebec.  My  noble  and 
gallant  lover  pressed  his  suit,  and  I  gave  my  hand 
and  heart  to  Chateauguay.  Yes,  Normand,  my  heart 
too,  honestly  and  wholly ;  to  have  withheld  it  would 
have  been  unworthy,  and  I  willed  that  he  should 
have  it. 

"  When,  for  the  glory  of  New  France,  with  a 
bridegroom's  tenderness  he  kissed  and  left  me,  I 
vowed  again,  as  I  had  done  before  the  altar,  to  be 
to  him  most  true. 

"And  during  the  weeks  which  followed,  day  and 
evening  I  prayed  to  God,  with  passionate  entreaty, 
that  I  might  love  my  husband  with  all  my  strength 
and  power  of  loving.  I  cried  out  to  the  sweet  Ma- 
donna to  obtain  for  me  this  favor,  only  this !  It 
may  be,  other  brides  have  no  need  thus  to  pray; 
and  yet  again,  perchance  many  who  think  them- 
selves the  fondest  have  as  much  need  as  had  I,  since 
what  is  called  love  is  so  often  but  another  name  for 
selfishness.  It  may  be  that  in  my  own  pique  and 
pride  I  was  over-hasty,  that  my  marriage  was  a  mis- 
take; I  cannot  tell.  Nevertheless  this  I  feel  and 
know:  had  Chateauguay  lived,  I  should  have  loved 
him  faithfully  and  well ;  and  if  a  remembrance  of 
any  other  lover  sought  hiding  in  my  heart,  the  hand 
of  God  himself  would  have  plucked  it  out." 

As  in  her  earnestness  the  clear  eyes  of  Miladi 
met  my  own,  to  me  she  took  on  an  added  dignity 
and  beauty;  and  I  blessed  God  that  the  heart  of 


SWEET  AS  THE  ARBUTUS  BLOSSOM     389 

our  dear  Barbe  was  as  Madonna-like  as  her  perfect 
face. 

"  Ay,  ay !  If  women  were  ever  wont  to  call  upon 
God  in  their  need,  there  would  be  fewer  broken 
vows  and  broken  hearts,"  I  murmured  meditatively. 

"Yes,  provided  men  did  so  as  well,"  she  retorted 
with  a  flash  of  her  saucy  spirit.  "  Howbeit "  —  and 
again  she  became  pensive  —  "  Le  Moyne  fell,  fight- 
ing the  English.  From  the  hand  of  my  own  people 
came  the  blow  that  seemed  to  crush  out  all  my 
youth ;  the  blow  that  in  itself  would  have  separated 
me  from  the  Bostonnais,  so  you  should  have  re- 
flected, you  foolish  Normand !  How  could  I  wed 
an  English  officer,  when  the  English  killed  Cha- 
teauguay  ?  " 

"The  Bostonnais  may  not  have  been  in  that  cam- 
paign," I  felt  it  incumbent  upon  me  to  observe. 

She  heeded  not,  but  went  on  simply,  — 

"  I  resolved  to  devote  my  life  to  the  memory  of 
Chateauguay;  to  remain  his  widow,  though  I  was 
but  in  name  his  wife.  I  sought  the  seclusion  of 
his  seigneury  on  the  river  bank;  I  wanted  to  enter 
the  convent  of  the  Ursulines,  but  the  good  mother 
put  me  off.  You  came,  but  I  did  not  care  to  see 
you.  Merely  to  think  of  you  seemed  a  wrong  to 
Chateauguay,  as  if  he  still  were  living. 

"Yet  the  good  mother  of  the  Ursulines  said, 
'Wait.'  Indifferent  as  I  thought  myself,  as  time 
went  on,  your  quiet  sympathy  became  a  pleasant 
recollection.  Gradually,  too,  my  spirits  returned, 
for,  O  God,  I  was  still  so  young  to  be  plunged  in 
sorrow !  I  grew  lonely  at  the  seigneury ;  Beauport 
and  Quebec  had  their  reminiscences;  besides,  I  did 
not  wish  to  go  yet  into  the  gay  world.  Therese  was 
about  to  set  out  for  Le  Detroit  to  join  her  husband; 


390     A   DAUGHTER   OF   NEW    FRANCE 

she  pressed  me  to  bear  her  company.  It  was  the 
one  boon  I  would  have  asked,  the  chance  to  get 
away  into  a  new  world;  to  leave,  if  possible,  all  sad 
associations;  to  teach  the  little  children  of  the 
wilderness." 

"A  womanly  ideal,"  I  said  tenderly. 

"  But  —  but  —  there  was  one  thought  that  de- 
terred me,  I  must  confess,"  she  admitted;  "it  was 
the  thought  of  you,  Normand." 

She  smiled  a  little  at  my  start  of  discomfiture. 

"Still,  I  reasoned  myself  out  of  this  reluctance," 
she  went  on.  "  Chut,  Cousin  Normand  was  never 
my  lover,"  I  argued  to  myself.  "It  will  cure  my 
morbidness  to  see  him.  He  will  scold  me  and  take 
me  to  task,  as  formerly,  and  our  encounters  of  wit 
will  be  as  the  striking  of  steel  upon  flint.  Here 
no  one  ventures  to  contradict  the  Lady  of  Chateau- 
guay,  but  Normand  will  not  stand  upon  any  such 
ceremony. " 

"  What  a  churl  I  must  have  been  to  have  led  you 
to  this  opinion !  "  I  deprecated  with  a  laugh,  all  the 
while  eager  that  she  would  have  done  with  these 
details  and  speak  the  one  word  I  longed  to  hear, 
or,  if  she  would  not  say  it,  that  she  would  give  me 
leave  to  plead  my  cause  anew ;  for  it  looked  to  me 
as  if  in  this  long  history  she  did  but  seek  to  put 
me  off. 

"Now,  monsieur,  no  impatience,"  she  proceeded 
with  most  teasing  deliberation,  again  piling  up  the 
barricade  of  pillows,  which  I  had  overturned.  "  If 
a  woman  is  ever  to  be  heard  out,  I  should  like  to 
know  if  it  is  not  when  a  cavalier  is  waiting  for  her 
answer." 

"I  pray  he  may  not  have  to  wait  all  his 
life,"  I  hazarded  with  a  sigh,  whereat  she  was 


SWEET  AS  THE  ARBUTUS  BLOSSOM   391 

mightily  amused,  for  of  all  the  innocent  coquetry  I 
have  ever  seen,  Miladi  Barbe  had,  I  think,  the 
greatest  share,  nor  has  she  lost  it  to  this  day,  but 
continues  to  coquet  with  her  husband  in  a  most 
shameless  fashion,  for  a  woman  of  her  years,  as  he 
has  often  remarked  to  me  in  friendly  confidence. 

"  No,  Sir  Gravity,  I  promise  you  he  will  not  have 
to  wait  even  until  his  locks  turn  gray,"  she  rejoined 
nonchalantly.  "  When  he  gets  it,  -I  know  not  if  he 
will  like  it  over-well." 

At  this  I  caught  her  hands  again,  and  would  have 
taken  the  answer  I  wanted  from  her  lips  without 
more  ado,  but  she  drew  back  with  dignity,  and  ris- 
ing, dropped  me  a  stately  curtsy,  as  if  she  would 
leave  me  altogether. 

I  took  two  or  three  turns  about  the  room,  then 
came  and  stood  before  her  where  she  had  sunk  down 
once  more  among  the  cushions  and  motioned  me  to 
resume  my  place. 

"  I  will  not  sit  down  again  until  you  answer  me!  " 
I  cried. 

"  I  pray  you  may  not  grow  over-weary  of  stand- 
ing, monsieur,"  she  retaliated  naively. 

I  stamped  my  foot,  and  said  something  under  my 
breath. 

"Ah,  that  is  more  like  the  Normand  I  remem- 
ber," Miladi  exclaimed  with  the  utmost  serenity,  — 
"the  contrast  I  needed  to  the  picture  in  my  mind's 
eye  a  moment  since.  Revenons  a  nos  moutons,  let 
us  return  to  our  viands.  Are  we  not  a  practical 
people,  we  French?  We  may  neglect  to  return  to 
our  loves,  our  homes,  our  friends,  but  we  never  for- 
get to  go  back  to  our  dinners. " 

"Barbe,  this  levity  —  "  I  began,  in  a  deeply  of- 
fended tone. 


392     A    DAUGHTER    OF    NEW   FRANCE 

"Well,  Normand,  as  I  was  saying,"  she  pursued 
serenely,  "  with  that  scowl  upon  your  brow,  your 
appearance  is  quite  natural ;  but  when  we  met  at  Le 
Detroit,  as  I  told  you  there  one  day,  I  scarce  recog- 
nized you.  When  you  spoke  to  me,  it  was  as  if 
your  words  had  been  steeped  in  a  honey  wrought  by 
stingless  bees,  if  perchance  that  might  be  sweeter 
than  the  common  kind.  The  mentor  whom  I  ex- 
pected to  meet  was  become  anon  a  flatterer  and 
again  diffident  and  distant  toward  me,  though  bold 
and  brave  ever  when  there  was  cause  for  action." 

"It  was  because  I  loved  you  so  much,  Barbe,"  I 
broke  out.  "  I  was  proud,  it  is  true,  I  had  no  mind 
to  be  numbered  among  your  discarded  suitors,  yet 
often  too  I  laughed  at  my  presumption,  in  that  I 
sometimes  hoped  you  would  leave  your  manor  on 
the  St.  Lawrence  for  a  home  builded  of  mud  and 
cedar  bark  upon  the  banks  of  Le  Detroit.  But 
now  I  see  that  my  very  love  gave  me  the  right  to 
speak,  gave  you  the  right  to  know  and  to  decide. 
Therefore,  although  but  the  clerk  of  the  Chevalier 
de  la  Mothe,  I  ask  you  to  be  my  wife." 

"As  I  have  said,  I  will  think  the  matter  over," 
rejoined  Madame  de  Chateauguay,  with  equanimity. 

"In  God's  name,  Barbe,  torture  me  no  longer," 
I  cried.  "Is  it  '  Yes,'  or  'No'?  Tell  me,  that  I 
may  either  go  or  stay." 

Seeing  that  I  was  veritably  at  the  end  of  my 
stock  of  patience,  and  really  angered,  she  dropped 
her  bantering  in  a  trice,  and  demolished  the  barri- 
cade of  cushions. 

I  feigned  to  take  no  notice  of  the  ruse,  however. 
Thereupon  she  sprang  to  her  feet,  and  coming  to 
me  with  the  docility  of  a  child,  laid  a  hand  upon 
my  arm,  and  looked  up  into  my  face. 


SWEET  AS  THE  ARBUTUS  BLOSSOM    393 

"  Ah,  Normand,  mon  ami !  "  she  said  in  a  voice 
of  captivating  tenderness.  "  I  have  teased  you  be- 
yond all  endurance,  but  it  was  only  that  in  the  end 
I  might  tell  you  this.  When  I  was  a  child,  and 
we  went  a-Maying  together,  often,  after  I  had  gone 
skipping  on  before,  I  came  running  back  to  you,  my 
arms  laden  with  arbutus  blossoms,  and  stretched  the 
sweet  flowers  out  to  you,  that  you  might  take  them. 
But  you  paid  no  heed ;  you  were  lost  in  a  day-dream, 
and  did  not  see  that  they  were  for  you.  And  thus 
I  waited  in  vain  until  with  childish  impatience  I 
was  fain  to  fling  the  drooping  buds  away." 

"I  was  ever  a  stupid  fellow,  of  a  surety." 

"No,  no,  only  blind,"  she  corrected.  "You 
longed  for  my  love,  you  say,  yet  you  did  not  see  that 
it  was  yours  for  the  taking.  My  heart  was  yours 
always,  save  only  during  the  few  weeks  when  it  be- 
longed of  right  to  another." 

Thereat,  in  her  impulsive  and  impetuous  fashion, 
she  reached  up  to  me,  as  I  bent  my  head,  and  tak- 
ing my  bearded  cheeks  between  her  pretty  hands,  of 
herself  kissed  me  squarely  upon  the  mouth. 

Then,  alarmed  at  what  she  had  done,  she  sought 
to  hide  her  blushes  by  flight;  but  I  caught  her  in 
my  arms. 

"Barbe! "  I  cried,  with  a  rapturous  laugh,  giving 
back  the  kiss,  and  this  time  being  unrebuffed  and 
unchastised. 

Perhaps  I  was  a  fool  that  I  took  not  more  than 
one,  or  two  at  the  most;  but  in  truth,  I  did  not 
dare,  and  could  scarce  yet  believe  in  my  own  good 
fortune.  Nathless  Miladi  has  told  me  since  that 
in  this  instance  she  liked  me  all  the  better  for  my 
diffidence. 

Presently  we  were  again  sedately  seated  upon  the 


394     A   DAUGHTER   OF   NEW   FRANCE 

settle,  but  now  the  cushions  of  balsam  and  the  down 
of  the  wild  swan  were  fallen  to  the  floor,  and  I 
hastily  shoved  them  away  with  my  foot,  lest  it  might 
enter  into  Barbe's  head  to  straightway  build  a  wall 
between  us  again;  since  she  had  then,  and  has  still, 
as  many  bewitching  moods  as  a  day  in  May. 

When  we  began  to  look  our  happiness  quietly  in 
the  face  and  to  plan  for  the  future,  I  said  half  jest- 
ingly, yet  with  an  undertone  of  earnestness,  — 

"  Well,  well,  Miladi,  this  is,  after  all,  but  a  sorry 
match  for  you.  Were  you  minded  to  marry  again, 
you  should  have  had  a  noble  of  New  France  for 
your  husband." 

"I  shall  have  a  noble  husband,  never  fear,"  she 
answered  with  archness. 

"Ah,  my  dear,"  I  went  on  gravely,  "now,  more 
than  ever,  I  wish  for  your  sake  that  the  prizes  of 
ambition  were  mine.  I  would  fain  be  a  dashing  sol- 
dier, reputed  for  my  prowess,  my  skill  as  a  swords- 
man ;  a  leader  of  the  troops  of  the  province ;  the 
founder  of  a  colony,  like  Monsieur  de  Cadillac." 

My  sweet  Barbe  laughed,  —  a  merry,  happy  laugh. 

"And  will  you  find  it  hard  to  believe,  Normand," 
she  declared  with  a  shake  of  the  head,  —  "  will  you 
find  it  hard  to  believe  that  I  love  you  just  because 
you  are  not  the  swashbuckling  cavalier  you  would 
forsooth  have  me  wed,  monsieur?  I  have  seen  you 
ready  enough  with  your  blade  upon  occasion;  but  I 
scarce  think  it  would  add  to  my  happiness  to  know 
that  you  were  prone  to  run  your  friends  through  the 
body  upon  the  lightest  provocation.  I  have  seen  you 
brave,  prompt  to  fight  for  and  defend  the  helpless 
and  those  who  claimed  your  love  and  duty.  I  do 
not  know  that  I  should  admire  you  more  were  you 
ever  eager  to  dash  into  broils  and  quarrels,  —  if  you 


SWEET  AS  THE  ARBUTUS  BLOSSOM   395 

chafed  always  for  wars  and  slaughter,  as  do  some. 
You  have  not  wealth,  but  would  I  respect  you  more 
if  you  had  gained  it,  as  do  many,  by  cheating  the 
King,  by  oppressing  the  people,  by  tricking  the 
poor  Indians  out  of  their  peltries  and  luring  them 
to  their  ruin  with  eau  de  vie?  As  for  the  prizes 
of  ambition,  Normand,  look  you,  Monsieur  de 
Cadillac  is  an  honest  man  and  an  able  one  ;  in 
ability,  foresight,  and  plans  for  the  development 
of  New  France,  far  in  advance  of  these  times,  I  am 
told.  He  has  received  honors,  emoluments,  gifts 
from  his  Majesty,  and  yet  what  has  been  his  life? 
One  of  disappointment,  of  bitterness,  of  fierce  antag- 
onisms, of  enmities.  Have  the  prizes  of  ambition 
in  his  case  been  worth  what  they  have  cost  him? 
If  a  man  loves  place  and  power,  it  becomes  the 
duty  of  a  good  wife  to  aid  him  to  attain  it,  if  she 
can.  But,  ah  me!  I  would  not  have  you  like  to 
Cadillac !  A  restiveness  such  as  his,  as  fiery  a  spirit 
would  weary  out  my  heart.  I  have  not  the  sweet 
patience  of  Therese,  nor  yet  the  calmness  that  could 
soothe  so  imperious  a  nature.  No,  Normand,  I 
would  not  have  you  other  than  you  are.  I  have  seen 
you,  a  faithful  friend,  serving  the  interests  of  De  la 
Mothe  better  than  your  own,  because  of  the  boyish 
pledge  of  fealty  you  gave  him.  I  have  seen  you  a 
tender  brother  to  Therese;  a  man  gentle  to  beast 
and  bird;  as  just  to  the  red  man  as  to  his  white 
brother;  a  student,  preferring  your  few  books  and 
your  quill  to  the  pleasures  of  the  wine-cup  and  the 
beauty  of  women,  —  albeit  indeed,  sir,  in  other  days 
your  liking  for  the  society  of  Madeleine  de  Vercheres 
and  one  or  two  other  of  my  friends  caused  me  no 
small  uneasiness." 

"What  folly,  Barbe!"  I   interposed  vehemently. 


396     A   DAUGHTER   OF   NEW   FRANCE 

"  Never  did  I  give  a  second  thought  to  any  woman 
save  you." 

"Oh,  oh,  that  is  all  very  well  to  say  now,  mon- 
sieur," she  protested.  "I  am  told  that  every  man 
save  Adam  has  said  the  same  to  his  fiancee,  and,  if 
one  chose  to  consider  the  fable  of  Lilith,  perhaps  one 
might  imagine  Adam  himself  no  more  of  an  excep- 
tion in  this  respect  than  those  who  have  come  after 
him.  However,  we  will  let  this  pass,  sir;  I  would 
not  have  you  think  me  jealous  now,  nor  like  to  be 
jealous  of  any  woman  in  the  world.  And  —  and  —  I 
care  not  to  see  you  a  cavalier  of  courts  and  camps, 
Normand,  though  La  Mothe  says  you  made  a  most 
excellent  appearance  even  at  Versailles  on  account 
of  your  gentle  manners.  Once  I  saw  you  plunge 
into  the  jaws  of  a  fiery  death  to  rescue  a  poor  little 
Pani  slave,  and  Therese  wrote  me  in  much  more 
glowing  terms  than  you  have  described  the  circum- 
stance, telling  me  how  you  faced  alone  the  horde  of 
infuriated  savages  in  your  endeavor  to  save  our  dear 
Frere  Constantin.  Never  fear,  Normand,"  she  re- 
peated, slipping  her  hand  into  mine  with  simple 
content,  "  I  shall  have  as  good  reason  to  be  proud  of 
my  husband  as  has  any  woman  of  New  France." 

I  bent  my  head  and  touched  her  white  fingers  with 
my  lips. 

Is  there  anything  in  all  the  world  sweeter  to  a  man 
than  to  hear  even  his  failures  lauded  as  if  they  were 
victories  by  the  tender  voice  of  the  woman  he  loves? 

In  the  peacefulness  of  the  September  evening,  as 
I  rode  back  to  Quebec,  the  earth  seemed  to  me  a  para- 
dise as  my  mind  dwelt  upon  the  incidents  of  the 
afternoon. 

The  dream  of  my  life  had  come  true.  Barbe  was 
my  promised  wife.  Of  her  own  accord  she  had 


SWEET  AS  THE  ARBUTUS  BLOSSOM    397 

kissed  me,  — as  artlessly  and  with  the  same  innocent 
frankness  that  she  had  been  wont  to  come  and  kiss 
me  when  she  was  a  child.  I  had  looked  into  her 
heart  and  with  half-awed  delight  found  myself  mir- 
rored there,  as  one  sees  his  own  reflection  in  the 
depths  of  a  pure  forest  spring. 

Barbe  had  laid  her  hand  in  mine  freely  and  with 
confidence.  She  had  called  me  by  that  term  of  en- 
dearment, —  the  sweetest  of  all,  to  my  thinking,  — 
"mon  ami"  (my  friend),  she  had  said;  choosing  the 
name  that  the  good  dame  of  New  France  gives  to 
her  husband,  as  it  is,  in  turn,  the  title  of  honor  and 
affection  he  bestows  upon  her. 

"  Mon  ami  "  —  "  Ma  mie,"  so  it  should  be  between 
us  evermore. 

Under  the  stars,  as  I  rode  on,  I  vowed  to  God  that 
as  I  would  be  ever  her  lover,  her  faithful  husband, 
so  also  I  would  be  to  her  the  friend  she  had  named 
me,  as  she  would,  I  knew,  be  mine.  For  had  ever 
man  a  truer  friend  than  is  a  devoted  wife  ?  And  I 
set  down  here  as  my  experience  of  some  twenty-eight 
years,  that  a  firm  and  tender  friendship  is  the  tie  of 
wedded  love  which  best  stands  the  strain  of  time. 


CHAPTER   TWENTY-NINTH 

A   ROMANCE  TO   THE   END 

THUS  it  came  about  that  Barbe  and  I  were 
married  at  Beauport  one  golden  day  of  Octo- 
ber, as  is  set  down  in  the  parish  register.  Thus 
it  was  that  I,  who  had  thought  never  to  be  wedded, 
took  back  a  bride  with  me  to  Fort  Pontchartrain, 
through  the  heart  of  the  Indian  summer;  and  no 
fairer  bride  will  the  blue  waters  of  Le  Detroit  ever 
look  upon. 

Monsieur  de  Cadillac  received  us  royally.  "You 
went  out  of  my  jurisdiction,  and  therefore  eluded  the 
requirement  to  ask  my  consent,  as  Commandant 
and  Seigneur,  to  your  marriage,"  he  said  jovially. 
"Still,  I  forgive  you.  Also,  Miladi,"  he  went  on, 
turning  to  my  wife ;  "  albeit  I  might  never  have  quite 
pardoned  the  Lady  of  Chateauguay  for  having  tam- 
pered with  my  gaoler  and  thus  compassed  the  escape 
of  the  Bostonnais,  I  have  only  good-will  for  Madame 
Barbe  Guyon.  You  have  foregone  a  proud  title  and 
a  distinguished  rank,  Miladi,  to  marry  a  simple  gen- 
tleman, but  I  know  that  you  account  yourself  still  a 
gainer  thereby.  Moreover,  Normand  is  not  so  poor 
as  it  may  seem,  even  if  't  is  said  a  man  should  not 
take  a  wife  until  he  has  a  house,  and  a  fire  burning. 
Here  upon  Le  Detroit  are  the  lands  I  granted  him 
long  since,  but  which  he  has  never  redeemed  from 
the  wilderness.  Now  he  shall  put  them  under  cul- 
tivation and  build  a  commodious  mansion  thereon. 


A    ROMANCE   TO    THE   END 


399 


Until  it  is  ready  for  you,  Madame  Cadillac  and  I 
claim  you,  Milacli,  and  your  gallant  husband  as  our 
guests.  Now,  no  protests,  my  preux  secretary. " 

Therese  added  her  plea  most  strongly,  for  she  was 
overjoyed  to  have  the  companionship  of  my  dear 
Barbe  once  more. 

Through  the  winter  we  remained  at  the  manor,  but 
when  the  May-time  came  again  we  were  domiciled 
in  our  own  home. 

Then  followed  three  tranquilly  happy  years. 

We  were  not  rich,  yet  we  had  enough  to  live  upon. 
Barbe  would  still  have  drawn  a  handsome  annuity 
from  the  seigneury  on  the  St.  Lawrence,  but  at  our 
marriage  I  persuaded  her  to  relinquish  it.  She 
had  been  chatelaine  by  courtesy,  the  title  having 
passed,  at  the  death  of  Chateauguay,  to  his  young 
brother,  Jacques,  and  thence  in  turn  to  Antoine,  with 
whom  we  had  to  do  in  the  south  later. 

My  uncle  Guyon,  moreover,  made  her  a  handsome 
allowance,  and  with  the  moneys  which  came  to  me 
in  the  end  from  my  father's  property,  the  sum  I  had 
saved  from  my  salary  as  secretary  to  our  Sieur,  and 
the  profits  from  the  lands  I  now  cultivated,  we  had 
comfort  and  content.  It  is  strange  that  in  those 
days,  as  often  since,  though  I  had  ever  been  moder- 
ate in  the  spending  of  moneys,  Barbe  was  continually 
chiding  me  for  my  extravagance;  since,  by  every 
convoy  from  Montreal,  I  ordered  new  silken  gowns 
for  her,  until  she  declared  I  would  thus  waste  all 
my  substance.  But  a  lover's  purse  is  tied  with 
cobwebs,  and  it  gave  me  great  satisfaction  that, 
with  a  lover's  pride  in  her  beauty,  as  her  husband 
I  might  deck  it  as  richly  as  I  chose. 

These  years,  so  peaceful  for  us,  were  more 
troubled  for  Monsieur  de  Cadillac.  The  King  re- 


400     A    DAUGHTER    OF    NEW    FRANCE 

fused  him  the  marquisate  upon  which  he  had  set  his 
heart.  The  malevolent  Red  Dwarf  whom  he  had 
beaten  upon  the  strand  in  the  moonlight  seemed  ever 
to  dog  his  footsteps.  The  sale  of  brandy  to  the 
Indians  even  in  small  quantities  brought  them  down 
upon  the  colony  more  than  once  like  packs  of  mad- 
dened wolves,  and  in  the  harassments  which  came  to 
him  from  the  very  tribes  he  had  enticed  away  from 
Michilimackinac,  it  often  seemed  to  me  that  the 
high-bred  De  Carheil  was  avenged. 

At  length,  however,  there  was  another  turn  in  the 
tide  of  our  Sieur's  fortunes :  he  was  appointed  Royal 
Governor  of  the  vast  province  of  Louisiana. 

All  the  properties  of  Fort  Pontchartrain  were  the 
personal  possessions  of  De  la  Mothe;  but  although 
this  was  acknowledged,  he  was  forbidden  to  take  any- 
thing away  with  him ;  neither  would  the  government 
permit  him  to  sell  even  the  cattle  he  had  brought 
from  Montreal,  nor  his  horse  Colin,  the  only  one  in 
the  settlement,  the  plea  being  that  the  new  Command- 
ant, Monsieur  de  la  For£t,  needed  these  properties, 
yet  had  not  the  moneys  to  buy  them. 

Before  the  setting  in  of  the  winter  Therese  and  her 
children,  Barbe  and  myself,  with  the  little  son  and 
daughter  who  had  come  to  us,  left  Le  Detroit  for 
Quebec,  there  to  await  "  mon  chevalier,"  who  had 
gone  to  France.  He  arrived  in  the  spring  with  a 
shipload  of  girls,  sent  out  to  become  the  wives  of 
settlers  in  the  new  province ;  and  we  sailed  with  him 
for  Dauphine  Island,  the  seat  of  government  of 
Louisiana,  where,  on  the  seventeenth  of  May,  he  was 
installed  as  representative  of  his  Majesty  in  a  terri- 
tory many  times  greater  in  extent  than  the  kingdom 
of  the  Sun  King. 

But  how  sadly  disillusioned  was  my  brother  in  this 


A    ROMANCE   TO    THE   END         401 

wild  province!  The  settlers  were  for  the  most  part 
lawless  vagabonds,  though  some  bore  the  names  of 
families  distinguished  in  our  Canadian  annals.  His 
governorship  was  fruitful  in  naught  but  vexations,  and 
he  was  not  regretful,  I  trow,  when  after  a  few  years  he 
was  relieved  of  it  and  called  to  Paris. 

Fain  would  I  have  gone  with  "  mon  chevalier;  "  but 
he  bade  me  remain  here  in  the  western  world,  saying 
thus  I  could  best  serve  his  interests. 

A  summer  passed,  and  then  the  winter,  and  spring 
came  again.  One  day  I  sat  upon  the  gallery  of  my 
house  on  Dauphine  Island,  which  commands  a  view 
of  the  haven  of  St.  Louis  de  Mobile,  a  bay  that  is  lost 
afar  off  in  the  wide  expanse  of  the  Gulf  of  Mexico. 

It  was  the  month  of  May,  yet  the  patch  of  grass  I 
had  sown  early  in  the  season  was  already  parched ; 
the  sandy  soil  thirsted  for  rain.  Looking  backward 
across  the  estuary  that  separates  the  island  from  the 
shore,  I  beheld  an  almost  unbroken  line  of  oak,  bald 
and  black  cypress,  and  the  long-leaved  yellow  pine, 
and  I  knew  these  primeval  trees  were  hung  with  cur- 
tains of  the  mist-like  gray  moss  which  deepens  the 
shade  of  these  dark  woods  of  the  south. 

The  scene,  although  lonely,  was  not  unlovely ;  the 
blackness  of  the  forest  contrasted  with  the  blue  of 
the  sky  and  the  sparkling  waters  of  the  bay;  the 
silver  moss  which  I  had  brought  from  the  woods  and 
hung  upon  the  rafters  of  the  gallery,  together  with 
the  vines  I  had  planted,  made  a  pleasant  screen 
against  the  sunlight. 

"  Almost  a  year  has  passed  since  our  Sieur  sailed 
away,"  I  soliloquized,  and  thereat  fell  into  a  reverie 
wherein  there  arose  before  me  an  air-castle  that  far 
eclipsed  the  glories  of  the  ancient  Chateau  of  St. 
Louis,  within  whose  shadow  I  first  encountered  the 
26 


402     A   DAUGHTER    OF   NEW   FRANCE 

dashing  Chevalier  de  la  Mothe.  I  saw  my  brother 
returning  to  us  rich,  powerful,  the  lord  of  all  New 
France ! 

Under  the  spell  of  the  fancy  and  of  the  balmy  air 
of  the  forenoon,  and  lulled  no  doubt  by  the  buzzing  of 
the  honey-bees  about  the  vines,  I  must  have  fallen 
asleep. 

How  long  I  slept,  I  cannot  tell,  but  when  I  awoke 
I  thought  I  must  be  dreaming  still.  I  rubbed  my 
eyes  and  looked  again.  Yes,  assuredly,  upon  the 
horizon  was  a  fair  frigate  with  her  sails  set  making  for 
the  harbor,  with  the  sun  shining  full  upon  her  white 
pinions,  and  turning  her  masts  and  rigging  to  ropes 
and  spars  of  gold. 

"  A  ship  from  France  !  "  I  cried,  starting  to  my  feet, 
"  a  ship  from  France,  and  she  was  not  due  for  ten 
days !  " 

At  this  moment  a  cannon-shot  from  the  fort  an- 
nounced that  the  vessel  was  sighted.  An  answering 
boom  came  to  us  across  the  waters,  —  a  greeting 
from  the  Old  World  to  the  New. 

"  A  ship,  ma  mie,  I  am  off  to  the  quay,"  I  called  to 
Barbe,  who  sat  within  doors,  in  the  cool  of  the  salon, 
teaching  some  intricate  stitch  of  needlework  to  our 
oldest  daughter,  Therese. 

"The  sun  is  hot,  mon  ami,  and  may  give  you  a 
giddiness  in  the  brain,"  protested  my  wife. 

"  My  faith,  I  would  risk  being  stricken  down 
rather  than  be  absent  from  the  coming  in  of  a 
ship,"  I  rejoined  with  enthusiasm;  and  clapping 
my  chapeau  upon  my  head,  I  sallied  down  to  the 
Esplanade. 

When  I  again  turned  my  steps  homeward,  it  was 
long  past  the  hour  of  the  usual  light  mid-day  meal, 
and  I  had  broken  my  fast  in  the  morning  only  with 


A   ROMANCE  TO   THE   END         403 

a  small  bit  of  galette  au  beurre  and  a  dish  of  late 
strawberries. 

Nevertheless  it  was  not  the  need  of  food  which 
had  rendered  me  dazed  and  ill,  nor  yet  the  rays  of 
the  sun.  When  I  reached  the  gallery  once  more,  I 
sank  down  upon  the  bench  in  my  favorite  corner,  and 
flung  my  hat  upon  the  ground  with  a  murmur  of  deep 
despondency. 

Barbe,  who  must  have  felt  rather  than  heard  or 
seen  my  return,  came  hurrying  from  the  other  end 
of  the  house,  crying  joyfully,  — 

"You  have  missives  from  France,  of  course. 
How  fares  the  Sieur  Cadillac,  and  to  what  good  post 
has  the  Regent  appointed  him  ? 

"But,  Normand,"  she  continued,  catching  sight 
of  my  face,  —  I  had  been  mopping  my  brow  with 
my  handkerchief  under  pretence  of  the  heat,  — 
"  Normand,  what  ails  you,  what  advices  have  you  ? 
TheVese?" 

"There'se  is  well,  at  least  as  to  bodily  health,"  I 
responded  quickly. 

"And  Monsieur  de  la  Mothe  —  he  is  not  dead?" 

"  He  is  worse  than  dead,"  I  made  answer  in  desper- 
ation; "he  is  a  prisoner  in  the  Bastile. " 

"A  prisoner  —  the  Bastile!"  my  wife  repeated 
with  a  gasp  of  horror.  Then,  recovering  herself, 
she  laid  a  caressing  arm  about  my  shoulders,  as  if 
her  love  would  ward  off  from  me  all  sorrow. 

"  Think  of  it,  Barbe !  "  I  exclaimed.  "  My  dear 
chevalier  is  shut  up  in  the  living  tomb,  where  so 
many  political  prisoners  are  buried,  lost  to  their 
families  and  friends  forever." 

"  But  of  what  offence  is  he  accused  ?  " 

"  He  understands  not.  Mayhap  some  spite  of  his 
enemies  here  in  the  province. " 


4o4     A    DAUGHTER    OF    NEW   FRANCE 

"Our  poor  Therese,  may  God  comfort  her!"  said 
Barbe,  softly.  "What  will  you  do,  Normand?" 

"Do?"  I  broke  out,  starting  up.  "I  will  gather 
together  whatever  moneys  I  possess;  I  will  go  to 
France,  and  by  my  voice,  my  gold,  my  sword,  if  it 
can  help,  I  will  struggle  for  the  release  of  my  brother 
La  Mothe.  I  will  lay  down  my  life  for  him,  if 
need  be,  but  he  shall  be  freed  from  that  awful  prison, 
whose  only  echoes,  I  am  told,  are  clanging  chains 
and  human  sighs." 

"Yes,  go,  Normand,"  cried  Miladi,  with  a  self- 
forgetfulness  truly  heroic ;  "  go,  and  if  you  have  not 
enough  of  lucre,  take  all  that  is  mine  also." 

Thus,  when  the  frigate  returned  shortly  with  a 
cargo  of  tobacco,  I  sailed  as  her  only  passenger, 
carrying  with  me  whatever  of  coin  or  bullion  I  had, 
and  also  the  generous  legacy  which  Barbe  had  re- 
ceived from  her  adopted  father,  Francois  Guyon. 

The  sum  of  all  these  I  spent  to  secure  the  release 
of  our  Sieur  Cadillac  from  the  accursed  Bastile,  and 
was  thankful  to  Heaven  that  I  accomplished  the 
same. 

Fortunately  for  his  content,  La  Mothe  thought, 
as  did  Madame  Cadillac  as  well,  that  the  gold  I 
brought  him  was  gained  by  the  sale  of  some  part  of 
his  lands.  Nor  did  I  undeceive  them. 

He  retired  to  St.  Nicholas  de  la  Grave,  and  thence 
to  Caumont,  his  ancestral  home ;  and  after  a  short 
sojourn  there  with  "mon  chevalier"  and  Therese,  I 
recrossed  the  seas,  returning,  unknown  to  Cadillac 
and  my  sister,  with  an  empty  purse  and  no  prospects. 

Soon,  however,  I  obtained  a  minor  official  position 
under  Bienville,  brother  of  Henri  le  Moyne;  and 
although  it  was  a  bitter  potion,  I  never  regretted  my 
course  in  this  matter,  nor  did  Barbe,  I  know.  The 


A    ROMANCE   TO    THE   END         405 

days  of  straitened  means  which  followed  did  but 
unite  our  hearts  more  closely,  and  our  children  are, 
mayhap,  all  the  better  for  having  been  reared  with 
simple  tastes.  Moreover,  I  cannot  feel  that  I  did 
them  injustice,  since  there  is  left  for  them  the  fine 
tract  of  land  upon  Le  Detroit  which  my  brother  De 
la  Mothe  gave  me,  free  of  the  right  of  homage,  and 
for  which  I  have  the  written  concessions,  duly  signed 
and  witnessed. 

Now,  too,  our  fortunes  are  much  improved  by 
reason  of  the  fact  that  the  rich  lands  near  Lake 
Pontchartrain  wherewith  Governor  Bienville  re- 
quited my  services  are  close  to  the  site  whereon  he 
has  founded  the  city  to  be  named  La  Nouvelle 
Orleans,  in  compliment  to  the  Regent  of  France; 
for  ended  are  the  glorious  days  of  the  Sun  King. 

On  this  plantation  we  now  live.  For  a  time  I 
could  not  cultivate  it,  owing  to  a  lack  of  laborers ; 
but  the  company  having  brought  over  a  cargo  of 
blacks,  I  bought  a  score  of  them,  and  since  then 
have  given  attention  to  such  crops  as  the  government 
will  permit  us  to  raise,  —  namely,  rice,  indigo, 
tobacco,  and  cotton. 

Thus  in  this  southern  country  we  have  prospered. 
Our  home  faces  the  river;  never,  I  think,  would  I  be 
happy  in  a  habitation  whence  I  could  not  look  out 
upon  a  stretch  of  beautiful  water.  All  through  the 
summer  night  the  mocking-bird  sings  entrancingly 
among  the  magnolia  and  orange  trees  that  surround 
the  dwelling,  — a  long,  low  structure  of  timber  and 
adobe,  or  sun-dried  brick,  with  a  roof  of  grasses, 
wherein  are  interwoven  the  tendrils  of  many  blos- 
soming plants,  so  that  often  it  is  all  abloom,  like  a 
parterre. 

Around  the  cypress  pillars  of  the  gallery  twine 


406     A   DAUGHTER   OF   NEW    FRANCE 

luxuriant  climbing  roses.  In  Barbe's  garden  the 
air  is  sweet  with  the  breath  of  the  great  variety  of 
flowers,  which  in  this  climate  unfold  with  a  tropical 
profusion ;  and  even  as  I  write,  there  comes  to  me  on 
the  breeze  the  intoxicating  fragrance  of  the  white  jas- 
mine. The  palisade,  also  of  stout  cypress  wood,  is 
overshadowed  here  and  there  by  the  dark  plumes  of 
the  palmetto,  the  paler  green  of  the  banana-tree,  and 
the  gray-tinted  foliage  of  the  oak.  In  the  near-by 
orchard  grow  fine  pomegranates,  peaches,  figs,  and 
pears,  while  around  about,  almost  as  far  as  the  eye 
can  reach,  extends  my  rich  farm. 

Within,  the  house  is  brightened  by  the  happy  faces 
of  young  people,  —  a  fair  half-dozen,  ranging  in  age 
from  our  eldest  son,  who  reached  his  majority  awhile 
ago,  to  the  little  Babette,  who  is  as  like  to  Barbe 
in  her  childhood  as  is  one  sweet  spray  of  arbutus  like 
to  another. 

As  the  years  pass,  however,  it  seems  to  me  that 
ever  my  Barbe  grows  more  beautiful,  and  so  I  tell 
her. 

Thereat  she  laughs,  and  shows  me  how  the  elves 
of  time  have  stolen  the  gold  from  her  hair,  leaving  in 
its  place  a  sheen  of  silver;  and  how  the  first  silken 
gowns  I  bought  her  will  not  now  meet  by  a  good  two 
inches  around  her  ample  waist,  the  fabrics  of  Atlas 
which,  by  my  order,  were  sent  down  for  her  from 
Quebec  to  Le  Detroit,  and  which,  woman-like,  she 
has  treasured  to  this  day. 

But  what  though  't  is  as  she  says !  If  her  soft 
hair  wants  something  of  its  olden  brightness  and 
luxuriance,  and  her  whilom  youthful  grace  is  merged 
in  a  matronly  comeliness,  still  to-day  she  is  far  hand- 
somer than  she  has  ever  been. 

For  with  the  coming  of  every  little  child  to  our 


A   ROMANCE   TO   THE   END         407 

home  there  has  come  to  her  face  an  added  loveliness 
of  expression,  and  to  her  heart  a  deeper  tenderness; 
so  that  even  to  my  fond  remembrance  the  charms  of 
our  violet-eyed  demoiselle,  the  belle  of  New  France, 
pale  before  the  beauty  of  Madame  Barbe  Guyon,  my 
wife  and  the  mother  of  my  children. 

Some  years  since,  Barbe  and  I  made  a  voyage  un- 
usual in  extent,  even  for  these  days  of  long  cruises, 
when  ladies  are  often  as  adventurous  as  the  men. 

It  came  about  that  I  must  go  north,  and  she  sailed 
with  me.  We  went  to  Acadia  and  also  to  the  Eng- 
lish province  of  Massachusetts  Bay,  to  the  town  of 
Trimountain,  or  Boston,  and  to  Orange.  For  it  had 
ever  been  in  my  heart  to  take  my  wife  to  see  the  land 
of  her  birth,  and  albeit  she  had  never  spoken  the 
wish,  I  knew  that  she  hoped  sometime  to  obtain  a 
clue  to  her  true  name  and  parentage. 

A  child  carried  off  by  the  Indians!  Alas!  it  was 
too  common  a  story  to  be  remembered  all  these 
years,  if,  indeed,  it  could  ever  have  been  traced 
at  all. 

The  search  undertaken  for  Miladi's  sake  availed 
nothing ;  and,  save  for  her  disappointment,  I  am  as 
well  content.  My  aunt  Guyon  ever  maintained  that 
the  parents  of  our  English  demoiselle  were  gentle- 
folk, and  I  believe  she  was  right. 

Yet,  whatever  their  station,  I  know  for  certain  that 
my  dear  Barbe  belongs  to  the  "vraie  noblesse" 
which  numbers  those  of  virtuous  thoughts  and  deeds, 
gracious  manners,  and  unselfish,  loving  hearts. 
Moreover,  such  beauty  as  is  hers. blooms  not  from 
any  wayside  weed. 

We  went  to  Quebec,  and  Beauport,  too ;  but  when 
I  fain  would  have  Barbe  continue  on  with  me  to 
Le  Detroit,  she  said,  — 


4o8     A    DAUGHTER    OF   NEW   FRANCE 

"  No,  no,  Normand,  I  cannot  go  back  to  the  Colony 
on  the  Strait  where  we  were  so  ideally  happy. 
I  cannot  go  back  to  miss  Therese  from  the  manor; 
to  see  another  in  the  place  of  the  Chevalier  de  la 
Mothe.  I  should  regret  the  old  days  too  keenly." 

Therefore  I  proceeded  alone  to  Fort  Pontchar- 
train.  But  all  my  efforts  to  secure  for  "  mon  cheva- 
lier" the  price  of  even  a  small  part  of  his  lands 
were  unsuccessful.  Of  his  vast  property  upon  the 
majestic  river,  there  remains  to  his  children  not  the 
value  of  a  sou. 

The  revenge  of  the  Red  Dwarf,  the  prediction  of 
the  witch  of  the  Castle  of  St.  Louis,  the  warning  of 
the  missionary,  have  come  to  pass  in  all  points  save 
one:  the  English  have  not  obtained  possession  of 
the  Gateway  of  the  Lakes,  nor  will  they  ever,  I  ween. 
Neither  will  I  believe  that  the  fleur-de-lis  will  be 
torn  down,  or  that  another  standard  than  the  banner 
of  the  Bourbons  will  ever  float  over  Le  Detroit. 

And  how  fared  it  with  our  Sieur  Cadillac  during 
this  period?  After  a  time  the  king's  ministers, 
perchance  in  reparation  for  his  unjust  imprisonment, 
gave  him  the  governorship  of  Castel-Sarrasin ;  but 
being  deposed  erelong  in  favor  of  a  native  of  the 
town,  he  took  up  his  abode  in  a  grim  old  chateau  on 
the  Garonne,  where,  alas !  his  eventful  life  came  to  a 
close  some  five  years  since,  and  where  my  sister, 
Madame  Cadillac,  still  resides  with  her  children. 

In  his  day,  my  dear  chevalier  was  a  gallant  figure  of 
New  France.  He  had  the  courage  of  a  great  leader, 
and  was  ever  honorable,  honest,  and  loyal  to  the 
service  of  the  King.  Passing  over  my  own  allegiance 
and  affection,  which  he  held  from  my  youth,  I  will 
only  say  that,  notwithstanding  his  faults,  he  was  of 
a  noble  nature,  as  is  proved  by  the  devoted  respect 


A    ROMANCE   TO   THE   END         409 

and  affection  which  his  wife,  my  sweet  sister 
Therese,  ever  gave  him. 

Of  her,  in  turn,  were  "his  parting  words  to  me  when 
in  the  home  of  his  youth  I  took  leave  of  him,  —  a 
last  adieu,  although  we  knew  it  not. 

"  Normand,"  he  said,  "  I  returned  to  the  Old  World 
poor  as  when  I  first  left  it.  Life  has  given  me 
honors,  fortune,  power,  yet  only  to  speedily  snatch 
them  away.  Nevertheless  my  repining  is  checked, 
for  Providence  has  spared  to  me  that  which  so 
greatly  weighs  down  the  balance, — the  love  and 
companionship  of  my  dear  Therese.  I  have  been 
both  a  cavalier  and  a  sailor,  a  free  lance,  a  royal 
governor,  and  then,  again,  a  wanderer.  I  thought 
to  make  Ambition  my  guide,  but  the  jade  is  tor- 
ment enough  for  an  enemy.  My  life  has  been  a 
romance,  abounding  in  the  perils,  strife,  and  pic- 
turesque incident  which  belong  to  the  fascinating 
wilds  of  New  France;  the  romance  of  a  soldier  of 
fortune.  And  numbering  from  the  chapter  wherein 
is  set  down  my  first  visit  to  Beauport,  from  every 
page  thereafter  smiles  forth  upon  me  the  fair  face 
of  my  wife,  Therese  Guyon,  —  Therese;  who  in 
loving  duty  has  followed  me  through  many  rough 
ways,  even  as  when,  indifferent  to  hardship,  she 
came  across  three  hundred  leagues  of  wilderness 
to  make  for  me  the  first  white  man's  home  upon 
the  banks  of  the  beautiful  Detroit." 


THE  END 


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PS 
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